tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post5293472773166099433..comments2024-03-29T01:41:15.713+00:00Comments on Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park birds: Ralph Hancockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-76503069436559535302020-12-15T01:29:00.895+00:002020-12-15T01:29:00.895+00:00The number of wasp species is dizzying, literally ...The number of wasp species is dizzying, literally tens of thousands with many more undiscovered. <a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Megascolia_procer_MHNT_dos.jpg" rel="nofollow">Here</a> is a giant one from Java, <i>Megascolia procer</i>, which has a wingspan of 11.5 cm. It parasitises an even larger insect, the Atlas beetle, <i>Chalcosoma atlas</i>.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-64796055963728406162020-12-15T00:45:48.596+00:002020-12-15T00:45:48.596+00:00Our wasps were quite large common wasps that buzze...Our wasps were quite large common wasps that buzzed around the riping figs constantly, but I do remember seeing smaller wasps as well, which we disregarded because they weren't as aggressive. I never knew those were beneficent!Tinúvielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04794275230697959519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-29633582609466542222020-12-14T02:32:52.021+00:002020-12-14T02:32:52.021+00:00Fig wasps are not like Common Wasps. and are very ...Fig wasps are not like Common Wasps. and are very small. They are various members of a large superfamily, the Chalcioidea. They are mentioned in Aristotle, Historia animalium 5.32.4, who calls them ψῆνες: 'The fruit of the wild fig contains the <i>psēn</i>, or fig wasp. This creature is a grub at first; but in due time the husk peels off and the <i>psēn</i> leaves the husk behind it and flies away, and enters into the fruit of the fig tree through its orifice, and causes the fruit not to drop off; and with a view to this phenomenon, country folk are in the habit of tying wild figs on to fig trees, and of planting wild fig trees near domesticated ones.'Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-77320537094470915992020-12-14T00:18:40.347+00:002020-12-14T00:18:40.347+00:00Maybe it was hungry enough to investigate? There m...Maybe it was hungry enough to investigate? There must not be many fishes by now. <br /><br />Can confirm about wasps. They are a nuisance if you have fig trees in your backyard. We lived in constant fear for my mother, who is terribly allergic to bee and wasp poison.Tinúvielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04794275230697959519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-12734051270724718472020-12-13T21:20:01.962+00:002020-12-13T21:20:01.962+00:00I've never seen a Cormorant eating a crayfish....I've never seen a Cormorant eating a crayfish. I don't think Cormorants find them interesting.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-9099585276531046402020-12-13T20:45:06.479+00:002020-12-13T20:45:06.479+00:00I had a good view of the Goldeneye today. It was d...I had a good view of the Goldeneye today. It was drifting slowly near the bridge at the end of the Serpentine. For a change, it wasn’t diving.<br />While I was there, I saw a Herring Gull dive and catch a crayfish. It took it to dry land below the restaurant terrace. It attracted a crowd of Carrion Crows but all the birds had to scatter when a Cormorant suddenly arrived on the scene. After inspecting the crayfish for a few seconds, the Cormorant decided it wasn’t of interest and resumed fishing. This gave the gull an opportunity to start eating its catch again. Although a crow managed to grab a claw, the gull still had a hearty meal.Ian Younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07805150608243315063noreply@blogger.com