mud wasps and spiders

A female mud wasp (Sceliphron caementarium) builds and stocks her nest.

 Mud wasps are mostly spider predators and are not aggressive to people unless stepped on or handled. Photos and vid clips by C.J.W. Vos

nest art 3

^^inactive bald face hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) nest in shrub

 

^^nest are only used for a year. Baldfaced hornets are present throughout most of Canada and the US except for the American Midwest. Except for newly mated females, the entire colony dies each winter. A possible exception maybe in the American deep south where colonies may overwinter. 

^^Adults feed on flower nectar, ripe fruit, carrion and insects, including other wasp species.

Check out BugGuide for more wasp info

thanks to Matteo's Gelato for the use of their patio to take these nest shots

garden help

Ladybug!  Ladybug!
Fly away home.

Your house is on fire.

And your children all gone...

larva of the Japanese Ladybug (Harmonia axyridis) 

check out BugGuide for more ladybugs

 ^^despite their scary looks, ladybugs are voracious aphid predators and a friend to gardeners.

 ^^yellowjacket (Vespula sp.)

 ^^while not very popular, yellowjackets are helpful garden predators

^^visit  What's that Bug?  for lots of great wasp info and photos

neighbours

wasps