Wasps are by far my favorite insect, they have very interesting life cycles and display unique behavior. As a rule of thumb, all wasps can be closely approached with the exception of social wasps at their nest and hornets. Wasps are my primary subject in macro photography, and I am always keeping an eye to the ground looking for new or interesting wasps. When it comes to photographing wasps, I am more concerned with cataloging and identifying the species then I am with composing an artistic shot. I hope that my photographs can help interest others in these fascinating and beneficial creatuers. I would like to give a special thanks to all the entomologists on INat and Bugguide who have taken the time to help teach me and ID my observations.
In a letter to American botanist Asa Gray, Darwin wrote: "I cannot persuade myself that a beneficent and omnipotent God would have designedly created the Ichneumonidae with the express intention of their feeding within the living bodies of Caterpillars, or that a cat should play with mice."
Sawflies are not wasps, but make up the 4th group of insects in hymenoptera, the others beeing ants, bees and wasps. Due to their similar appearance, I sometimes come across these distant relatives of the wasps and the ones I have found are presented below.