With the continuing drought our bird bath is becoming popular again,
especially with the woodpigeon family. However I have noticed when birds are
absent there is almost always a wasp sitting on the side sipping away
(sometimes there are two but not often). When full, the insects frequently
take off erratically, and twice I've seen one do a barrel-roll and crash in
the middle of the bath but manage to fly out.

Why do the wasps want water; and why only one at a time? They seem too small
the be queens but could they be helping a queen build winter quarters?

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:509e760b85rblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> With the continuing drought our bird bath is becoming popular again,
> especially with the woodpigeon family. However I have noticed when 
> birds are
> absent there is almost always a wasp sitting on the side sipping away
> (sometimes there are two but not often). When full, the insects 
> frequently
> take off erratically, and twice I've seen one do a barrel-roll and 
> crash in
> the middle of the bath but manage to fly out.
>
> Why do the wasps want water; and why only one at a time? They seem too 
> small
> the be queens but could they be helping a queen build winter quarters?

It's not at all unusual for insects to sip water. They may not do it 
frequently but they will need moisture to digest food and replenish 
evaporated body fluids - and, in the waps case, to replace sting liquid!
One at a time at the bird bath maybe but, there will be other watering 
holes in the neighbourhood.
Over wintering queens will seek out a solitary refuge shelter.

As for the barrel rolls, that may just be a transient failure to adjust 
take off attitude with a heavier body load.

-- 
ned

ned wrote:
> It's not at all unusual for insects to sip water. They may not do it
> frequently but they will need moisture to digest food and replenish
> evaporated body fluids - and, in the waps case, to replace sting
> liquid! One at a time at the bird bath maybe but, there will be other
> watering holes in the neighbourhood.
> Over wintering queens will seek out a solitary refuge shelter.

If the wasps are still expanding their nests they will need water to assist 
making paper out of wood fibres. The wasps here are still shaving my fence!

I think they wet the nest if it gets too hot, like indirect sweating...

Mike.
-- 
If reply address is invalid, remove spurious "@" and substitute "plus"
where needed.

Rodney Blackall  was inspired to say
>With the continuing drought our bird bath is becoming popular again,
>especially with the woodpigeon family. However I have noticed when birds are
>absent there is almost always a wasp sitting on the side sipping away
>(sometimes there are two but not often). When full, the insects frequently
>take off erratically, and twice I've seen one do a barrel-roll and crash in
>the middle of the bath but manage to fly out.
>
>Why do the wasps want water; and why only one at a time? They seem too small
>the be queens but could they be helping a queen build winter quarters?
>
Interesting question, I would assume they use water in nest building as 
well as for they own refreshment.

But it prompts me to ask for any explanation of the bees in this photo - 
Galilee, June this year:-

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2438/3666450890_dcb6005498_o.jpg

Thanks

Mike
-- 
Michael J Davis

<><
"Just the place for a Snark!" the Bellman cried,
      As he landed his crew with care;
Supporting each man on the top of the tide
      By a finger entwined in his hair.

"Just the place for a Snark!  I have said it twice:
      That alone should encourage the crew.
Just the place for a Snark!  I have said it thrice:
      What I tell you three times is true."
<><

In article , Rodney Blackall
 wrote:
> With the continuing drought our bird bath is becoming popular again,
> especially with the woodpigeon family. However I have noticed when birds
> are absent there is almost always a wasp sitting on the side sipping away
> (sometimes there are two but not often). When full, the insects
> frequently take off erratically, and twice I've seen one do a barrel-roll
> and crash in the middle of the bath but manage to fly out.

> Why do the wasps want water; and why only one at a time? They seem too
> small the be queens but could they be helping a queen build winter
> quarters?

Friday 2nd Oct
Wasps STILL coming in for a drink even though it now a bit cooler and
breezier.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:50a41ea27brblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> In article , Rodney Blackall
>  wrote:
>> With the continuing drought our bird bath is becoming popular again,
>> especially with the woodpigeon family. However I have noticed when 
>> birds
>> are absent there is almost always a wasp sitting on the side sipping 
>> away
>> (sometimes there are two but not often). When full, the insects
>> frequently take off erratically, and twice I've seen one do a 
>> barrel-roll
>> and crash in the middle of the bath but manage to fly out.
>
>> Why do the wasps want water; and why only one at a time? They seem 
>> too
>> small the be queens but could they be helping a queen build winter
>> quarters?
>
> Friday 2nd Oct
> Wasps STILL coming in for a drink even though it now a bit cooler and
> breezier.

Well, I'm getting on a bit but the cold weather doesn't seem to affect 
my need for re-hydration.

-- 
ned

"Rodney Blackall"  wrote in message 
news:50a41ea27brblackall@rodsrisc.demon.co.uk...
> In article , Rodney Blackall
>  wrote:
>> With the continuing drought our bird bath is becoming popular again,
>> especially with the woodpigeon family. However I have noticed when birds
>> are absent there is almost always a wasp sitting on the side sipping away
>> (sometimes there are two but not often). When full, the insects
>> frequently take off erratically, and twice I've seen one do a barrel-roll
>> and crash in the middle of the bath but manage to fly out.
>
>> Why do the wasps want water; and why only one at a time? They seem too
>> small the be queens but could they be helping a queen build winter
>> quarters?
>
> Friday 2nd Oct
> Wasps STILL coming in for a drink even though it now a bit cooler and
> breezier.
>

I know very little about wasps but my beekeeper friend always puts out a 
saucer of water in front of her hives so that the bees can drink, and I've 
seen them doing just that.  No reason to suppose wasps are much different.
Why would they not need to drink?


Tina

In article ,
   Christina Websell  wrote:

> >> Why do the wasps want water; and why only one at a time? They seem too
> >> small the be queens but could they be helping a queen build winter
> >> quarters?
> >
> > Friday 2nd Oct
> > Wasps STILL coming in for a drink even though it now a bit cooler and
> > breezier.
> >

> I know very little about wasps but my beekeeper friend always puts out a 
> saucer of water in front of her hives so that the bees can drink, and I've 
> seen them doing just that.  No reason to suppose wasps are much different.
> Why would they not need to drink?

But there are never more than two, and then they go off in different
directions. It is as if there is one dedicated water carrier per nest. But I
have not tagged them so I cannot tell if it is always the same insect.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j