I found this magnificent wasp on my patio window looking in. It is a medium to large species at around 15mm (5/8in) long. As can be seen they have very distinct black and yellow abdominal bands. They are predatory on moth and butterfly larvae. The images portray the male.
It is usually seen feeding on umbellifers, or flying through foliage on the hunt for prey. Click that mouse … and click it again if you wanna closer look-see …
Copyright: Peter Hillman
Camera used: Nikon D7200
Date taken: 30th June 2019
Place: Rear garden, Staffordshire
Nature Journeys 
The single click really brings out the quality in these photos, nice job.
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Thank you, David, I appreciate that!
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Perfect macros Pete!
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Thank you very much, Greta 🙂
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Excellent pictures!
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Thank you very much 🙂
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It looks pretty fierce. Fine photos, Pete!
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Thank you, Belinda 🙂
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I love the DOF on those frontal shots you take. Makes me feel as though they’re right in front of my face and I’m down at their level.
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Thank you, Vicki 🙂 As you know, I like to get up close and personal with them 🙂
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It looks ferocious in the head-on shot!
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Oh, I really like that facial closeup, Pete. Handsome little devil with a nifty little mustache. 🙂
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🙂 Thank you, Steve 🙂 It’s always good when they play ball with you and keep still long enough to take the shot.
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Another ‘don’t mess’ glare. Is he friendly to humans despite preying on butterfly and moth larvae?
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These wasps don’t technically possess a sting, although the females have an ovipositor which is simply an egg laying tube which it may use to sting if provoked, but they do not contain venom like other wasps true stings do.
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