I like the bug that takes the opportunity of a consistently open window to patronize my library. Commonly known as the black and yellow mud dauber, this peaceful member of the Hymenoptera order, of the Sphecidae family of wasps, is a solitary individual that builds its nest with mud in the quiet darkness of the shelves.

The adult feeds itself with flower nectar, but the larvae are carnivorous. This is why an accidentally broken vase (books can be deadly) may produce its content of small insects, usually small spiders, reserved for the newborn lunch.

Nikon D810, 85 mm (85.0 mm ƒ/1.4) 1/500″ ƒ/6.3 ISO 800

Nikon D810, 85 mm (85.0 mm ƒ/1.4) 1/400″ ƒ/8 ISO 800

A frantic go-and-return. Nikon D810, 85 mm (85.0 mm ƒ/1.4) 1/320″ ƒ/1.6 ISO 800

A frantic go back and forth. It may take a female only one day to construct a cell, requiring dozens of trips carrying mud. Nikon D810, 85 mm (85.0 mm ƒ/1.4) 1/320″ ƒ/1.4 ISO 800

A frantic go back and forth. It may take a female only one day to construct a cell, requiring dozens of trips carrying mud. Nikon D810, 85 mm (85.0 mm ƒ/1.4) 1/320″ ƒ/2.2 ISO 800

A frantic go-and-return. Nikon D810, 85 mm (85.0 mm ƒ/1.4) 1/320″ ƒ/2.5 ISO 800

A frantic go-and-return. Nikon D810, 85 mm (85.0 mm ƒ/1.4) 1/320″ ƒ/2.5 ISO 800

A frantic go-and-return. Nikon D810, 85 mm (85.0 mm ƒ/1.4) 1/320″ ƒ/2.5 ISO 800

In the quiet darkness of the shelf, a hidden deposit of vases. Nikon D810, 105 mm (105.0 mm ƒ/2.8) 0,4″ ƒ/4.5 ISO 64

A frantic go-and-return. Nikon D810, 85 mm (85.0 mm ƒ/1.4) 1/320″ ƒ/2.5 ISO 800

A frantic go-and-return. Nikon D810, 85 mm (85.0 mm ƒ/1.4) 1/320″ ƒ/2.5 ISO 800

A frantic go-and-return. Nikon D810, 85 mm (85.0 mm ƒ/1.4) 1/320″ ƒ/2.5 ISO 800

And that’s what’s inside an accidentally broken vase. The endowment of the wasp for its offspring to be. Nikon D810, 105 mm (105.0 mm ƒ/2.8) 0,4″ ƒ/4.5 ISO 64

A frantic go-and-return. Nikon D810, 85 mm (85.0 mm ƒ/1.4) 1/320″ ƒ/2.5 ISO 800

A frantic go-and-return. Nikon D810, 85 mm (85.0 mm ƒ/1.4) 1/320″ ƒ/2.5 ISO 800

A frantic go-and-return. Nikon D810, 85 mm (85.0 mm ƒ/1.4) 1/320″ ƒ/2.5 ISO 800

A frantic go-and-return. Nikon D810, 85 mm (85.0 mm ƒ/1.4) 1/320″ ƒ/1.6 ISO 800

This wasp definitely loves Walter Pater’s scripts. Nikon D810, 24 mm (24.0 mm ƒ/1.4) 0,4″ ƒ/4.5 ISO 64

Nikon D810, 105 mm (105.0 mm ƒ/2.8) 1/5″ ƒ/10 ISO 64. Macro photography. Camera mounted on a micrometric sledge. 15 steps focus-stacking blended with Photoshop.

Mi piace questo insetto che, approfittando della finestra aperta, si mette a frequentare la mia biblioteca. Comunemente conosciuta come vasaia, questa vespa dell’ordine degli Imenotteri, famiglia delle Sfecide, è un essere solitario, raramente aggressivo, che costruisce il proprio nido d’argilla nella quiete ombrosa degli scaffali. L’adulto si nutre del nettare dei fiori, ma la larva è carnivora. Un vaso, accidentalmente frantumato (i libri possono essere mortali) rivela il proprio contenuto di piccoli ragni riservati ai pasti del nascituro.