Great Golden Digger Wasp

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.