Learning To Appreciate Wasps

Wasps are one of the least appreciated creatures on the planet, but we have always suspected they deserve some respect. We just never investigated why that might be the case. So, our thanks to the Guardian for bringing this book to our attention in an article titled Why we should all love wasps:

Wasps have always had a bad press. But Dr Seirian Sumner, who has spent her life studying them, argues they are sophisticated, socially complex and essential to the environment

In The Wasp Woman, a 1959 B-movie directed by Roger Corman, the owner of a failing cosmetics company becomes the test subject for a novel anti-ageing formula manufactured from the royal jelly of wasps. Continue reading

Tropical Wasps

Wasp belongs to the Order Hymenoptera, which includes bees and ants also. It is in fact one of the largest insect groups. Tropical wasps build their hives in tall trees and steep corners of the mountain edges, all habitat commonly found in the Periyar Tiger Reserve. The wasps lay their eggs and hatch their young in beautiful hives made out of clay mixed with their saliva.  Continue reading