addicted2wasps

[addicted2wasps]

I want to thank everyone for their wonderful suggestions and support! I will definitely be busy for a while again! Yay! Inspiration! A warm-up drawing from this morning, a beautiful Eusandalum sp. (Eupelmidae). There are so many cool wasps out there. People are really missing out! Even yellowjackets are adorable and cute in my opinion. Wasps are the best. ❤️

#hymenoptera #insect #entomology #wasp #wasps #apocrita #parasitica #Chalcidoidea #Eupelmidae #Eusandalum #traditionalart #illustration

[addicted2wasps]

Firework Fairy!!!! I absolutely love that!!!!

I suppose you all remember my Eutrichosoma mirabile cartoon from a while ago, but I wanted to challenge myself into drawing a realistic one. UGH, this was a total PAIN to draw! I had to restart many times! All the photos online are of dead specimens with legs retracted, and I had to really study how this wasp would look alive with the legs spread out. It still doesn't look "real" enough for my liking, but as this is probably my 5th attempt at drawing it, I suppose that will do for now. I certainly don't dislike it, but I'm probably just overtired and need a well-deserved break. Also, my new pencils are GREAT! :)

[addicted2wasps]

This is not a completed piece of art. I plan on drawing more cool wasps and eventually making a poster. I've just been going through a hard time recently, and I haven't had as much inspiration. Depression is hitting me a bit. Here are all the ones I've done so far. If anyone has a suggestion for a very obscure, specific, and weird wasp, let me know! You might spark my inspiration and motivation!

#hymenoptera #insect #entomology #wasp #wasps #apocrita #aculeata #Marietta #Galearia #Leucospis #Eutrichosoma #Dasymutilla #Pelecinus #Cameronella #Vespula #Megarhyssa #Agamerion #Sphex #Chrysis #art #traditionalart #illustration #workinprogress #Zagrammosoma #parasitica #colouredpencils

[addicted2wasps]

My current complete collection of ocean Jasper spheres. It's an addiction. I've shared pictures of these before, minus my newest one which is the big one at the far, middle right. They also all have names!

1. Sanguinolentum: Containing, or tinged with blood, bloody.

2. Tulipa: Plant, Tulip. The colours and patterns reminded me of a flower field.

3. Xerces Sylvester Cosmos: This one is super random. My parents and I each gave this one a name. I said Xerces because it reminded me of the extinct, blue, San Francisco Lycaenid butterfly, my dad said Sylvester because he's random, lmao, and my mom said Cosmos because it seemed I had searched the entire cosmos for it.

4. Fuligo: The yellow blob reminded me of yellow slime mold.

5. Cirrocumulus: Named as such because the light blue orbs are reminiscent of clouds.

6. Nix: Meaning "snow" in Latin. The large, white orbs give an appearance of large fluffy snowflakes.

7. Sakura: The numerous, small, pink orbs give off cherry tree vibes. As if it were covered in tiny, pink blossom petals.

8. Penicillium: An iconic fungi. The colour and pattern resembles mold in a petri dish.

9. Favus: Meaning "honeycomb" in Latin.

10. Occasus Solis or "Occasus" for short: Latin for "setting sun".

11. Ignis: Latin for "fire".

12. Maculosus: Latin for "spotted" or "speckled".

#oceanjasper #oj #oceanjasperspheres #mineral #rock #crystal #mineralogy #Madagascar #orbicular #orbs #spherulites #collection #spheres

[addicted2wasps]

Vespula germanica queen. ❤️

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. April 17th 2024.

#hymenoptera #insect #entomology #wasp #wasps #apocrita #aculeata #vespoidea #vespidae #vespinae #Vespulagermanica

[addicted2wasps]

The eclipse was pretty trippy and awesome. It would've been ridiculous to not go to the Greenbelt to observe it. Lots of things to see around!!! We got around 99% coverage here, in Ottawa, Canada, and it's amazing how much light was still showing.

#eclipse2024 #eclispe #Nature #greenbelt #ottawa #ontario #canada #cardinal #yellowbelliedsapsucker #gartersnake #Polygonia #Scilla #Thamnophis #Cardinaliscardinalis #2024 #April82024 #Acer

[addicted2wasps]

A hopeful recovery

I figured I'd open up tonight and share something about myself. 6 years ago, I suffered from a severe episode of psychosis. It was one of the scariest things I've ever had to go through. Having zero control of your own brain and being completely disconnected from reality is traumatizing. I witnessed one of my very close friends going through the same thing about a week ago. I got crazy flashbacks about my own experience and I'm deeply saddened because I wish I didn't have to relive my trauma and see one of my best friends suffering. He is currently being cared for, however. I showed support and shared my experiences with his parents as consolation to them. I hope he has a healthy recovery. Coming out of a psychosis suuuuuuuuucks and I know how rough it's going to be on him. I feel lost and worried. Life isn't the same right now. All I can say is that I will be there for him as a person to relate to, to cry to, to vent to. I'll be there when he comes back. Stay strong, my friend.

#mentalhealth

[addicted2wasps]

Awesome!

got my hands on a field guide of californian bugs and i found that there's this one bee species in southern california that looks like this

(Actual bugs under the cut, CW for insects)

#Xylocopa

[addicted2wasps]

It was nice to be visited by a large flock of Bohemian Waxwings yesterday! They were devouring crabapples and making themselves at home. After hundreds of pictures, I managed to get a few decent ones. I did see one Cedar Waxwing within the group, but failed to get a good picture of it. I can still hear them in the distance today, so they might make another appearance. My camera will be ready! and Happy Easter! :)

#Ornithology #Bird #Birds #BohemianWaxwing #Bombycillagarrulus #Crabapples #March #2024 #Spring

[addicted2wasps]

New comic!

The printer is on the fritz so I can't even do a proper scan. A picture will have to do for now. Will update with a scanned image once a new printer is up and running.

I haven't yet drawn any Dryinids or "pincer wasps" until now it seems! Females have modified front tarsi that work as pinching apparatuses. They are parasitoids of immature and adult Hemipterans. The female will use her "pincers" to grab the host and lay an egg on it.

There is even an African Dryinid (Thaumatodryinus tuukkaraski)

named after Hockey Player: Tuukka Rask, which I thought was interesting.

"An entomologist named a newly discovered wasp species after Tuukka Rask because the insect's raptorial fore tarsus is as tenacious as the Bruins goalie's glove hand."

However, the individual in my comic is a Gonatopus.

It's been too long since I've drawn a comic! It's nice to have new ideas every so often!

#hymenoptera #insect #entomology #wasp #wasps #apocrita #aculeata #cartoon #Dryinidae #Gonatopus #Chrysidoidea #Planthopper #Nymph #PincerWasps #PincerWasp #comic

[addicted2wasps]

She figured it out, folks.

#MaineCoon #Funny #YouLittleTreatFiendLmao

[addicted2wasps]

I'm so stoked! An Ichneumonid I don't come across very often! Collyria sp., (Collyriinae)! 😍 From Serbia.

#hymenoptera #insect #entomology #wasp #wasps #apocrita #parasitica #Collyriinae #Collyria #Ichneumonidae #Ichneumonoidea #CanadianNationalCollection #CNC #CanadianNationalCollectionOfInsectsArachnidsAndNematodes

[addicted2wasps]

She's done! Dasymutilla flammifera.

#Dasymutillaflammifera #VelvetAntPlush #Mutillidae #Wasp #Wasps #Entomology #Insect #DasymutillaflammiferaPlush #Sewing

[addicted2wasps]

Only 2 more legs to go! Then gonna sew the rest of the black eyelash fabric on the remaining legs. Almost finished!

#velvetantplush #wip #project #Dasymutillaflammifera #Mutillidae #Sewing #Entomology #Wasp #Wasps

[addicted2wasps]

It's starting to come together, I guess. Just need to make the legs (which will probably be an absolute pain to make, but I will do them in sections), and add some black eyelash fabric under the gaster (abdomen). I'm going to be able to pet a giant velvet ant and not get stung. 😂 I didn't add a squeaker in the end, it felt kind of unnecessary. This is so silly. Lol. I really am just experimenting. I just needed a Mutillid plush in my life so I thought I'd try and make one.

#velvetant #velvetantplush #Dasymutillaflammifera #wip #project #progress #Mutillidae #entomology #Hymenoptera

[addicted2wasps]

Antennae are pretty much done! I might add more details, but I'm also not going to push my luck. Now for the rest of the body....😨 I have a pretty good idea on how I'm going to make it, though.

Ok, soooooooo I'm almost afraid to post this, but I'm trying something I've never done before. I'm basically attempting at making my own Dasymutilla flammifera plushie. So far, I've made the head + mandibles, minus the antennae. Gonna work on those next. Glued the eyes on. The red eyelash fabric had to be sewn on by hand. It's a long process, but I'm really intrigued and kind of scared to find out how it will look when it's finished! (The mandibles are open so that it looks more badass!) I learned how to use a sewing machine for the first time. This is a journey. If it turns out alright when finished, I'll post it. It's going to be a big plush, lmao. I might even add a squeaker in the abdomen since Mutillids stridulate when threatened. I'm still on the fence about that one, though. Just imagine the antennae are there. 😆 I'll update this post with a pic including the antennae once I've finished them. The red hairs are a bit messy but I'm gonna fix them later.

#Dasymutillaflammifera #Ihavenoideawhatimdoinglmao #ItWillMakeMoreSenseWhenItIsCompleted

[addicted2wasps]

Ok, soooooooo I'm almost afraid to post this, but I'm trying something I've never done before. I'm basically attempting at making my own Dasymutilla flammifera plushie. So far, I've made the head + mandibles, minus the antennae. Gonna work on those next. Glued the eyes on. The red eyelash fabric had to be sewn on by hand. It's a long process, but I'm really intrigued and kind of scared to find out how it will look when it's finished! (The mandibles are open so that it looks more badass!) I learned how to use a sewing machine for the first time. This is a journey. If it turns out alright when finished, I'll post it. It's going to be a big plush, lmao. I might even add a squeaker in the abdomen since Mutillids stridulate when threatened. I'm still on the fence about that one, though. Just imagine the antennae are there. 😆 I'll update this post with a pic including the antennae once I've finished them. The red hairs are a bit messy but I'm gonna fix them later.

#sewing #plush #wip #experiment #Dasymutillaflammifera #VelvetAnt #Mutillidae #Entomology #Hymenoptera #Wasp #Wasps #project