During April 2007 I discovered a small wasp nest on the inside of my garage door. I identified the species as the Saxon Wasp Dolichovespula saxonica, a social wasp noted for being non-aggressive. So I left the tennis ball size nest there, and over the nest few weeks I photographed the wasps building their nest to the size of a football. Although I was often taking pictures of these insects from only a few inches away, they remained non-aggressive. Queens started to be seen leaving the nest in early August, and by very early September the nest was abandoned.
A Saxon Wasp Dolichovespula saxonica frozen in flight by high speed flash as it flew to the nest.
The Saxon Wasp's nest on the inside of my garage door.
Above are Saxon Wasps nest building. These wasps allowed me to move in very close to take pictures without becoming aggressive.
Saxon Wasp taking food to its nest.
Saxon Wasp leaving the nest.
All pictures are Copyright of Richard Revels FRPS