Bees, Wasps, Hornets, etc Photo Gallery by M. Plonsky at pbase.com

Bees, Wasps, Hornets, etc

Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants. Bees are within the superfamily Apoidea. The term wasp is typically defined as any insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is neither a bee nor an ant. Hornets are the largest eusocial wasps. The true hornets make up the genus Vespa.

If you are interested in prints, electronic files, or usage rights, contact me at my website. For those interested, I have written several articles about macro photography. Photos Copyright © M. Plonsky. All rights reserved.

IMG_3661s.jpg	IMG_3618s.jpg	bald-faced hornet grooming
IMG_3707s.jpg	IMG_3599s.jpg	IMG_3715s.jpg
IMG_3879s.jpg	IMG_3613s.jpg	IMG_3634s.jpg
Yellow Jacket Wasp (vespula vulgaris)	IMG_3712s.jpg	IMG_3649s.jpg
IMG_3695s.jpg	bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata)	IMG_3549s.jpg
IMG_3517s.jpg	IMG_3520s.jpg	IMG_3514s.jpg
IMG_5049s.jpg	IMG_0016s.jpg	IMG_0005s.jpg
IMG_0060s.jpg	IMG_0592_4s.jpg	IMG_1040s.JPG
IMG_3742s.JPG	Face of Parasitic Wasp (ichneumon wasp)	IMG_5024s.jpg
Yellow Jacket	IMG_5038s.JPG	IMG_5021s.jpg
Paper Wasp (Polistes fuscatus)	IMG_5060s.jpg	IMG_11701s.JPG
Paper Wasp (Polistes fuscatus) bubble blowing	IMG_1247-8s.jpg	IMG_1334s.jpg
IMG_3227s.jpg	IMG_5967s.jpg	bug5617.jpg
IMG_0128s.JPG	IMG_9128s.jpg	IMG_1906s.jpg
IMG_3729s.JPG	IMG_2634s.jpg	bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata)
bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata)	Paper Wasp (Polistes fuscatus)	IMG_0110s.jpg
IMG_0140s.jpg	IMG_0137s.JPG	IMG_0441s.JPG
IMG_9234s.JPG	IMG_2981s.jpg	IMG_1747s.JPG
IMG_1227s.jpg	IMG_0987s.JPG	IMG_0959s.JPG
IMG_1519s.JPG	IMG_2980s.JPG	IMG_4529bs.jpg
IMG_3719s.jpg	IMG_3609s.jpg	IMG_3723s2.jpg
IMG_2127-8s.jpg	Bumble Bee	IMG_2390s.jpg
IMG_2108s.jpg	IMG_1452-94s.jpg	IMG_1484-5s.jpg
IMG_1741s.jpg	IMG_1741bs.jpg	IMG_9996s.jpg
IMG_1110s.jpg	IMG_9572s.jpg	IMG_1728s.JPG
IMG_0522s.JPG	IMG_1134s.JPG	IMG_0673bs.jpg
IMG_0616s2.JPG	IMG_0241-2bs.jpg	Bumble Bee
IMG_2166ss3.jpg	IMG_2082cs.JPG	IMG_1115s.JPG
IMG_1903cs.JPG	IMG_9277s2.JPG	IMG_1915bs.JPG
IMG_9047s.JPG	IMG_6311s.JPG	IMG_9323s.JPG
IMG_8845s.JPG	IMG_1135s.JPG	Bumble bee profile
bee8326.jpg	bee8635.jpg	bee8378.jpg
bee7110.jpg	bee4205pb.jpg	IMG_6265s.JPG
IMG_8842s.JPG	IMG_9279s.jpg	IMG_9321s.JPG
MamaWasp4359.jpg	bee10411.jpg

comment |

Nichole		17-Aug-2017 20:01
Just seen a black bee...wasp...what kind is it...it not round like the one in the pictures body type is more like hornet but it's black all black never seen one like thus before...do they sting

SmartmilToys.com		12-Nov-2016 11:42
Not so beautiful!

guest		26-Aug-2015 15:08
This is the first year we have had very aggressive bald face hornets at our jelly bird feeders. They chase any bird away that tries to feed even on the suet blocks. We have found several dead birds and wonder if the hornets sting could be killing them. Thank you for any information you can give us.

Tim Hall		05-Aug-2013 23:09
T Hall, Great pics but I am still unable to identify the hornet outside our apartment. The hornet is apox. 1.5 to 1.75 inches long it is yellow and block in front and black and white in the back end with dirty orange colored wings. Can you identify.

Stephen Buckingham		23-Aug-2012 00:31
Nice macro gallery

Mac		17-Aug-2011 11:18
At this moment (midday 17/8/11) there is an abundance of wasps, at least three different types. But the question is there is one large one, looks like a hornet but cannot identify it. Two black bands with a bright yellow band stretching down it's forehead to it's nose. Is it a Queen wasp or a hornet. Unable to photo it in macro. I have been about two inches from it and it is unconcerned. It is a beauty. Help please.

misty tiller		20-Jun-2011 19:34
I found a type of hornet or wasp in my house. They say it is a cow killer. It is huge, solid black with dark orange wings with really long legs. Was hoping you could tell me exactly what it was...

Harold		13-Apr-2011 18:33
Dear Sir I can only watch your photos in amazement at your art and skill.

Guest		20-Nov-2010 17:27
proapis13 - Romania Beautiful photos Really salve

M Hauss		13-Sep-2010 20:44
Amazing gallery of close-ups. I'm Stunned! v.

Maja Waiss		13-Sep-2010 19:54
Great! Great, great!!! V

sandy mcfall		15-Aug-2010 21:28
Thank you for the pictures but since there is no name or size given, I'm not sure if I found the type of bee or hornet that was nested in a bush outside my door. Did not want to kill them but tried soap and water spray, vinegar and water spray - but they just kept multiplying until there was a cloud of them waiting for us when we tried to go outside. We have no back door at my apartment building, so I finally had to spray them with Raid. Hated to do it. They weren't honeybees thank goodness, but very small stocky looking hornets. Couldn't find them in your picture gallery.

Hornet Buzz		07-Jun-2010 20:41
Thanls for an infinite source of avatars :-)) BBzzz Hornet Buzz

Kylie		27-Apr-2010 17:56
thanks i needed these for my power point in 4th grade :)

lucy		08-Jan-2010 00:14
wow ! great pics. very interesting

Guest		19-Sep-2009 03:29
Wow great pics, Am so glad I found this site. Thanks for your work

yini		11-Sep-2009 21:16
which is wasp which is bee but good job

Guest		01-Sep-2009 01:28
today I found a wasp that was about two inches ling is this normal? RC

Guest		12-Jul-2009 16:31
pics are great, but would like to see the name of each. I don't know the difference between them,

Rado		06-Jun-2009 14:00
Ooh...these photos are so realistic they make me twitch...

Guest		09-Apr-2009 14:37
Incredible gallery!

ROBERTO		10-Jan-2009 02:46
BUEN TRABAJO EN TUS FOTO EXCELLENTE TRAVAJO EXELLENT WORK WE LOVE YOU PHOTOS MARK . WE LOVE IT SO MUCH

Lloyd Davidson		07-Nov-2008 20:52
A few guesses at identification, even if not entirely accurate, would help this site a lot. The photos are all of very good quality but without labels giving names, dates or locations they don't mean much. Following your lead, however, I am planning on adding some plus lenses to my macro lens to see whether I can get useful magnifications above 1:1 without a bellows. I urge you to try a wireless macro flash attachment, which I find makes macro photos of moving insects much less difficult to take than using natural light and gives a much higher percentage of good action shots, particularly of flying insects like hover flies and sphinx moths. Catching an insect as it comes in for a landing is always a delight. I use the Nikon R1C1 system that is slaved to my camera's flash, although this give a slight time differential (~1/4 second) between pressing the shutter release and actually taking the picture. Nice job. One of the most depressing things about insect sites on the Internet is the generally poor quality of their images. In that regard, this is a very refreshing experience. Lloyd Lloyd

Lloyd Davidson		06-Nov-2008 15:46
A few guesses at identification, even if not entirely accurate, would help this site a lot. The photos are all of very good quality but without labels giving names, dates or locations they don't mean much. Following your lead, however, I am planning on adding some plus lenses to my macro lens to see whether I can get useful magnifications above 1:1 without a bellows. I urge you to try a wireless macro flash attachment, which I find makes macro photos of moving insects much less difficult to take than using natural light and gives a much higher percentage of good action shots, particularly of flying insects like hover flies and sphinx moths. Catching an insect as it comes in for a landing is always a delight. I use the Nikon R1C1 system that is slaved to my camera's flash, although this give a slight time differential (~1/4 second) between pressing the shutter release and actually taking the picture. Nice job. One of the most depressing things about insect sites on the Internet is the generally poor quality of their images. In that regard, this is a very refreshing experience. Lloyd Lloyd

Michael Shpuntov		12-Jun-2008 19:08
Fantastic work Mark. I enjoyed your macro work You have a great patience and great eye for composition on such a difficult micro level. Vote

Navneel		23-Apr-2008 08:11
Absolutely stunning! Great work! +++

Guest		29-Mar-2008 07:38
horrible

BignFat Photography		07-Mar-2008 02:25
Another amazing Gallery Fabulous!!!!! Thanks for sharing your photos.

Felice		12-Feb-2008 22:19
lavoro di una bellezza eccezionale, unica, sorprendente. Sono rimasto sbalordito difronte a tale bravura e maestria fotografica. Felice

Carina Gous		12-Feb-2008 21:05
Brilliant for school projects! Well done.

tayla		12-Feb-2008 06:24
thats heaps cool!

Fasiha		06-Jan-2008 05:35
wow, wow, wow, WOW, WOOOWW!!! very impressive macro.

Gordon		11-Nov-2007 12:38
very good

Meghan		12-Aug-2007 15:28
nice

Alexis		13-Jun-2007 23:31
These are some amazing photos!!!! I am not much into bees, but you make them look fabulous!! Again nice shots and I hope to see more soon!

Volodia		27-Jan-2007 16:36
Vzagali, duje klasni fotki ,diakyu!(Foto cool,sankyou!)V.Zhuravel.Kiyv.Ukrain.

Mario Villanueva		08-Aug-2006 12:39
Simply amazing!

John Carman		05-Aug-2006 02:06
You’re truly the MASTER of Macro!!

michelle		30-Jun-2006 14:25
thanks-i proved my husband wrong with your sit -- he he

Mario Weusten		27-May-2006 17:17
Excellent gallery

R. CLEMONS		07-May-2006 21:44
Excellent quality photos. Continue the great work.

Martin Green		20-Apr-2006 14:04
You reveal a beauty in the creatures I can appreciate - even while I am still suffering a sting from a wasp

Guest		07-Oct-2005 10:59
Amazing. Very intriguing.

Budi Prasetya		23-Sep-2005 03:39
Incredible! Fantastic!

De Huerta		22-Sep-2005 00:10
I normally don't comment. cause fotografers are a DIME a DOZEN. However , you my friend. Are GOOD.........................no question.... BELLISIMO.............

Guest		20-Sep-2005 12:19
Fantastic gallery!

Kathy Pilgrim		19-Sep-2005 19:54
Amazing work

Guest		19-Sep-2005 04:45
Outstanding collection of insects. Enjoy your article on Photolife Vol30 Jan 05. Congrats.

Laurie		04-Sep-2005 11:37
I was looking online for pics of insects 4 mi art project and found all the best pics here!!!

mazmazebamaze		24-Jun-2005 03:50
tasavir besyar zybast

Guest		15-Jun-2005 18:43
EXCELLENT WORK! I really enjoy your close-ups! roland (SK) www.photogallery.sk

M. Plonsky		24-Apr-2005 15:14
Mary- Thanx. I have a bunch of articles at: http://www.mplonsky.com/photo/articles.htm

Mary Thorman		23-Apr-2005 20:53
I have two questions about your remarkable work: 1) On image IMG_0241-2bs.jpg, can you tell us what exactly was your set-up - camera, lenses, filters, flash, etc.? 2) You write about the "Digital Darkroom" but never say which software you prefer to use. From some of your comments, I thought perhaps you were using Corel. I'd like to know since I've been trying to test various software packages, but am getting very mixed results (probably due to inexperience with most of them).

alanm		30-Nov-2003 07:58
Beautiful Photos. So surreal.

M. Plonsky		25-Sep-2003 15:18
Paul- For the close up wasp shots, the reversed 50mm was used. These shots are indeed very difficult to do well.

Paul		25-Sep-2003 05:24
For the second image did you use closeup filters or the reversed lens? I'm VERY interested in this sort of photography. I own an Olympus C700 and am having EXTREME difficulty getting results even close to yours with closeup filters.

Derrel		24-Jan-2003 04:29
Mark, Some very amazing photos...I tipped off a G-1 using friend of mine to your page. Your have done an amazing amount with the plus lenses and the reversed 50mm. Some good stuff! Derrel

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