Hairy wood ant & wasp

[SimonM]

We went to Hardcastle Crags NT estate last week and Mini-me was in charge of the camera all day.

He captured this Hairy Wood Ant on it way back to the nest with dinner...

A little later on, we found a Wood Ant nest too...it was literally covered in ants and huge...

Simon

 

[Chrisj]

We have loads of wood ants in the forests around here. The nests are really impressive aren't they? There is one spot I know of where you can see about 8 nests from a 150m stretch of forest track.

That looks to me like a hoverfly rather than a wasp though.

 

[Harvestman]

Definately a hoverfly - Episyrphus balteatus, distinguished by being the only UK species of hoverfly with two black bands per abdominal segment (although they are a bit reduced in the pictured one - it is a variable species).

Great pictures - thanks for posting.

 

[SimonM]

You are, of course, both correct - that'll teach me for listening to Mini-Me and not really looking at the detail!

he did get some rather nice shots that day, maybe I should let him carry the camera more!

Simon

 

[Trunks]

I went in Saturday, the massive wood ant nests were quite impressive. Each tree was crawling with them - I don't think I'll be hanging there anytime soon!

 

[Chrisj]

You are, of course, both correct - that'll teach me for listening to Mini-Me and not really looking at the detail!

he did get some rather nice shots that day, maybe I should let him carry the camera more!

Simon

Kids often get great pics. I think it's because they look at things in a different way. My 8 year old son has got some amazing abstract pictures that I wouldn't even have thought of.