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Lissopimpla excelsa
This large red wasp has black wings and a lateral row of four white dots along its abdomen. It is called the Orchid Dupe because Australian tongue orchids (Cryptostylis subulata) mimic the odor and appearance of female Lissopimpla wasps. The male Lissopimpla wasps mistake the flowers for females and then pollinating the orchid.
Feeding actively on the nectar of tea tree flowers.
Details of its contribution to orchid pollenation; http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/t... http://phys.org/news128699071.html http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/j...
Details of its contribution to orchid pollination;
http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/t...
Thanks for your comments everyone.
@Argy Bee; I fixed the location (I think Churchill Park occurs in Tassie too.)
Ashish, many of my pics were blurry too. This wasp was very active. Part of successful photography is the ones you leave out =)
Must be Martin they are really unstable even on single small leaf.... My all images of that Black Wasp are blurry.
Thanks Ashish. This was a very active wasp and hard to capture.
Thanks Alice. You are certainly correct with your ID, but what an odd name. You are a champion.