Backyard Zoology · 19 December 2019
2019-12-19T08:43:35+11:00
https://www.facebook.com/backyardzoology/posts/pfbid02EuQAMkD3obszPrUrPPz2ueetsAdJtE6LtJYp7XzU5u4EKzsFgJDoivYTrS7RSvksl

Okay, after sharing the video of my favourite total bastard last night, I realised that many of you haven't seen the tiny Cuckoo Wasp in the wild before. It's really difficult to tell from the footage just how glittery and stunning this bastard actually is. Now I don't want you all to think that I go risking life and limb by climbing ladders for any old critter so thought I should pop up some photos which might give you a better idea of my 'why'. Honestly, I love a bit of bling and not just in animal form *takes a quick glance at our Christmas tree with its needles dipped in pink glitter and sequins 😂🙌

Unfortunately, as mentioned this tiny, big eyed wasp (these ones were quite a bit less than a centimetre in length) didn't stay still for long and chose to land (approximately) one million kilometres away from me, so the photos show the colour and those big puppy dog eyes but don't show off their armour-like exoskeleton which is very much needed when you are trying to sneak into the nests of biting and stinging wasps. They can also roll into a ball to defend their abdomen as needed which seems pretty handy especially over Christmas when trying to present your best angles only for the inevitable photos!

Cuckoo Wasps
Northern Illawarra