A bewildering architectural variety exists among the many species of social wasps. This Brazilian Myschocyttarus paper wasp makes a long, rope-like nest.

Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Leptopilina boulardi (Figitidae)

Laboratory culture at Emory University, Georgia, USA
A male cicada killer wasp (Sphecius speciosus) monitors his territory from the top of a coneflower.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A cynipid gall wasp takes advantage of a previous wasp's efforts and lays her egg inside an existing oak gall.

Bell Smith Springs, Illinois, USA
A selection of Hymenoptera from a museum collection, preserved for scientific study.
Pseudomethoca frigida (Mutillidae).

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Sand wasps (Crabronidae) mating.

California, USA
Braconid wasps in the subfamily Alysiinae are parasites of flies.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Aphidius ervi - biocontrol wasp attacking Acyrthosiphon pisum pea aphids.  

Laboratory colony at the University of Arizona
A selection of Hymenoptera from a museum collection, preserved for scientific study.
A selection of Hymenoptera from a museum collection, preserved for scientific study.
A selection of Hymenoptera from a museum collection, preserved for scientific study.
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013