So I googled ‘why do wasps like my oregano/oreganum flowers’ and found nothing. Only pages with advice on how to keep wasps away from gardens.
But what I’ve been observing this week is rather interesting: within half an hour I recorded at least ten species of wasp visiting my oregano bush, together with honey bees, solitary bees and what appear to be some flies imitating wasps. By contrast, the prolifically flower sage next to the oregano is attracting very little attention.
All the species of wasps were docile at the least: all these photos were taken with my macro lens. Also, Charlie got in there to point out some of the more interesting ones.
Fairly regularly the wasps are observed to ‘pee’, and from their behaviour, they love drinking oregano nectar.
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| Hover fly on sage |
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| Fly or Wasp? |
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| Little one only caught in flight |
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| Mr Small Black |
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| Solitary bee |
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| Where's the wasp, Charlie? |
Merry Christmas to the Lee family. When I saw this entry I was instantly reminded of Stewart McLeans story "Rosemary Honey" Stewarts story series is wonderful and if you can find a pod cast of this story I guarantee you , you will not be disappointed. Listen to it at sunset, after the kids are in bed and you are enjoying a quiet sunset with your favorite beverage.
ReplyDeleteLook for " Vinyl Cafe" and the story of Rosemary Honey
Happy New Year,
martha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61IAFyyuYKs
ReplyDeleteI finally found it
Ah, this explains it. I've had a real problem with wasps and hornets this year, and I have a bumper crop of oregano.
ReplyDeleteI too just googled, "why do wasps like oregano" as I have so many wasps at my oregano plant. I like wasps, I have let them land on me without shooing them away and have never been stung by one without them having a reason. They are a gardeners friend, but WHY do they love oregano?
ReplyDelete