Great Golden Digger Wasp

Insects and Flowers at Acton Arboretum

August 24, 2020

A bald-faced hornet at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
A bald-faced hornet at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
A bumble bee at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
A bumble bee at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
A bumble bee at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
A bumble bee at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
A bumble bee at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
A bumble bee at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
Bumble bees at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
Bumble bees at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
Goldenrod at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
Goldenrod at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
A great black wasp at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
A great black wasp at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
A great golden digger wasp at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
A great golden digger wasp at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
A great golden digger wasp at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
A great golden digger wasp at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
A great golden digger wasp at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
A great golden digger wasp at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
A honey bee at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
A honey bee at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
A honey bee at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
A honey bee at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
Queen Anne's lace at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
Queen Anne's lace at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
Queen Anne's lace at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
Queen Anne's lace at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
Queen Anne's lace at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
Queen Anne's lace at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
A tachinid fly at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
A tachinid fly at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
Thistle at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
Thistle at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
Thistle at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
Thistle at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
An eastern yellowjacket at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
An eastern yellowjacket at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
An eastern yellowjacket at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
An eastern yellowjacket at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
An eastern yellowjacket at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
An eastern yellowjacket at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
A flower at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
A flower at Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.
Acton Arboretum, photographed by Nancy Wright.

Nancy Wright photographed a variety of insects and flowers along the trails at Acton Arboretum.

Insects in Northborough

July 26, 2020

Citrus flatid planthoppers in Northborough, photographed by Marnie Frankian.
Citrus flatid planthoppers in Northborough, photographed by Marnie Frankian.
A great black wasp in Northborough, photographed by Marnie Frankian.
A great black wasp in Northborough, photographed by Marnie Frankian.
A great golden digger wasp in Northborough, photographed by Marnie Frankian.
A great golden digger wasp in Northborough, photographed by Marnie Frankian.
A milkweed leaf beetle in Northborough, photographed by Marnie Frankian.
A milkweed leaf beetle in Northborough, photographed by Marnie Frankian.

Marnie Frankian photographed citrus flatid planthoppers, a great black wasp, a great golden digger wasp, and a milkweed leaf beetle in Northborough.

Nature in Southborough

July 27, 2020

An eastern bluebird at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
An eastern bluebird at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
A gray catbird at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
A gray catbird at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
A red-winged blackbird at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
A red-winged blackbird at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
A ruby-throated hummingbird at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
A ruby-throated hummingbird at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
An indigo bunting at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
An indigo bunting at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
An indigo bunting at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
An indigo bunting at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
An indigo bunting at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
An indigo bunting at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
An American robin at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
An American robin at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
An eastern kingbird at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
An eastern kingbird at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
An American goldfinch at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
An American goldfinch at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
An American goldfinch at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
An American goldfinch at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
A bumble bee at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
A bumble bee at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
Eastern kingbirds at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
Eastern kingbirds at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
Eastern kingbirds at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
Eastern kingbirds at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
Eastern kingbirds at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
Eastern kingbirds at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
A great black wasp at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
A great black wasp at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
A great golden digger wasp at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
A great golden digger wasp at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
A monarch butterfly at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
A monarch butterfly at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
A pearl crescent at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
A pearl crescent at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
A four-toothed mason wasp and a sand-loving wasp at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
A four-toothed mason wasp and a sand-loving wasp at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
A four-toothed mason wasp and a sand-loving wasp at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
A four-toothed mason wasp and a sand-loving wasp at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
A house sparrow at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.
A house sparrow at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough, photographed by Steve Forman.

Steve Forman photographed an eastern bluebird, a gray catbird, a red-winged blackbird, a ruby-throated hummingbird, an indigo bunting, an American robin, eastern kingbirds, American goldfinches, a bumble bee, a great black wasp, a great golden digger wasp, a monarch butterfly, a pearl crescent, a four-toothed mason wasp, a sand-loving wasp, and a house sparrow at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land in Southborough.

Great Golden Digger Wasp in Wayland

August 3, 2019

A great golden digger wasp nest in Wayland, photographed by Mimsy Beckwith.
A great golden digger wasp nest in Wayland, photographed by Mimsy Beckwith.
A great golden digger wasp nest in Wayland, photographed by Mimsy Beckwith.
A great golden digger wasp nest in Wayland, photographed by Mimsy Beckwith.
A great golden digger wasp nest in Wayland, photographed by Mimsy Beckwith.
A great golden digger wasp nest in Wayland, photographed by Mimsy Beckwith.

Mimsy Beckwith photographed this series of photos at the nest of a great golden digger wasp in Wayland. Mimsy shares: "A female great golden digger wasp begins to lay eggs!  This benign and gentle wasp has excavated several tunnels in the loose sand of a stone patio (sometimes removing pebbles bigger than her head [shown]; once satisfied with her “nests,” she hunts for insects—here a small grasshopper—paralyzes it and brings it to one of her tunnels, then re-inspects the tunnel, drags the paralyzed (live) insect inside, and lays one egg on it. She then seals up the tunnel, completes the same process for all the others—and her work is done.  A long process, and a lovely sight!

Great Golden Digger Wasp in Northborough

July 18, 2018

A great golden digger wasp in Northborough, photographed by Marnie Frankian.
A great golden digger wasp in Northborough, photographed by Marnie Frankian.
A great golden digger wasp in Northborough, photographed by Marnie Frankian.
A great golden digger wasp in Northborough, photographed by Marnie Frankian.

Marnie Frankian photographed this great golden digger wasp in Northborough.

Insects at Grist Mill Pond in Sudbury

July 26, 2017

A great golden digger wasp at Grist Mill Pond in Sudbury, photographed by Steve Forman.
A great golden digger wasp at Grist Mill Pond in Sudbury, photographed by Steve Forman.
A monarch butterfly at Grist Mill Pond in Sudbury, photographed by Steve Forman.
A monarch butterfly at Grist Mill Pond in Sudbury, photographed by Steve Forman.
A spicebush swallowtail butterfly at Grist Mill Pond in Sudbury, photographed by Steve Forman.
A spicebush swallowtail butterfly at Grist Mill Pond in Sudbury, photographed by Steve Forman.

Steve Forman photographed a great golden digger wasp, a monarch butterfly, and a spicebush swallowtail butterfly at Grist Mill Pond in Sudbury.

Backyard Nature in Sudbury

July 24, 2016

An eastern tiger swallowtail in Sudbury, photographed by Dave Longland.
An eastern tiger swallowtail in Sudbury, photographed by Dave Longland.
A bumble bee in Sudbury, photographed by Dave Longland.
A bumble bee in Sudbury, photographed by Dave Longland.
A great golden digger wasp in Sudbury, photographed by Dave Longland.
A great golden digger wasp in Sudbury, photographed by Dave Longland.
A spicebush swallowtail in Sudbury, photographed by Dave Longland.
A spicebush swallowtail in Sudbury, photographed by Dave Longland.
A spicebush swallowtail in Sudbury, photographed by Dave Longland.
A spicebush swallowtail in Sudbury, photographed by Dave Longland.
A turkey in Sudbury, photographed by Dave Longland.
A turkey in Sudbury, photographed by Dave Longland.
Turkeys in Sudbury, photographed by Dave Longland.
Turkeys in Sudbury, photographed by Dave Longland.

Dave Longland photographed an eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly, a bumble bee, a great golden digger wasp, a spicebush swallowtail butterfly, and a family of turkeys in Sudbury.

Pollinators in Wayland

July 12, 2016

A common buckeye at Greenways Conservation Area in Wayland, photographed by Michael Newton.
A common buckeye at Greenways Conservation Area in Wayland, photographed by Michael Newton.
A crossline skipper at Greenways Conservation Area in Wayland, photographed by Michael Newton.
A crossline skipper at Greenways Conservation Area in Wayland, photographed by Michael Newton.
A Delaware skipper at Greenways Conservation Area in Wayland, photographed by Michael Newton.
A Delaware skipper at Greenways Conservation Area in Wayland, photographed by Michael Newton.
A great golden digger wasp at Greenways Conservation Area in Wayland, photographed by Michael Newton.
A great golden digger wasp at Greenways Conservation Area in Wayland, photographed by Michael Newton.
A honey bee at Greenways Conservation Area in Wayland, photographed by Michael Newton.
A honey bee at Greenways Conservation Area in Wayland, photographed by Michael Newton.
A milkweed beetle at Greenways Conservation Area in Wayland, photographed by Michael Newton.
A milkweed beetle at Greenways Conservation Area in Wayland, photographed by Michael Newton.

Michael Newton photographed several insects during a pollinator survey at SVT's Greenways Conservation Area in Wayland. SVT has been working to improve habitat for the insects as part of our Places for Pollinators project. The goal of this project is to increase the abundance of quality foraging plants and bee-nesting habitat for pollinators, such as Monarch butterflies and native bees. The focus of this work has been along the Sudbury River, a major migratory corridor. At Greenways, this is a piece of an ongoing effort to restore native habitat at the property's north field.

Join us at Wolbach Farm in Sudbury for one of our Pollinator Parties on Saturday, July 16, 2016, to learn about the causes of the sharp decline in pollinators and what can be done in your own back yard to help. Register for the morning session or the afternoon session and enjoy a trail walk at Wolbach to discover plants beloved by butterflies and bees, visit the new pollinator garden beds, help construct a bee hotel, and enjoy refreshments that depend on the hard work of pollinators. There will also be activities that children will enjoy.