Tropical Potter Wasp

Description:

Vespidae; Eumeninae; Delta pyriforme philippense (Bequaert, 1928). This is a big wasp, close to 2 inches long. The head is very glossy black, as is the abdomen. At the posterior of the abdomen, near the stinger, there are some barely perceptible feint lines which circle the abdomen like belts (they are hard to see, but I think there are four). The thorax is matt black with a very fine texture which is only noticeable when the light strikes it from certain angles. The wings are black for the first 20% of their length starting at the base. The remaining 80% is translucent orange/yellow. The antennae are also orange/yellow. The legs have some fine whitish markings.

Habitat:

I spotted this Tropical Potter Wasp in a part of our vegetable plot which had just been harvested and cleaned up ready for some fresh planting. There had been heavy rainfall during the night and the soil was still moist. The wasp seemed to be enjoying flitting for from one spot to another and sipping at the damp soil.

Notes:

A really good spotting, with first class notes, from another Project Noah contributor - https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/15...