Name: Alan Clark
Picture title: German Wasps, Vespula germanica
Nationality: British
Occupation: Retired software engineer

Alan:
‘German wasps (Vespula germanica) are similar in appearance to Common Wasps but tend to be larger. They can often be seen gnawing on exposed wood, which they chew, mix with water from puddles and then turn into building materials for their nests. These two were spotted in a garden in Lancashire in 2020 and photographed from a hide near their nest. I used two flashes to freeze the action.’

Technical information:
Canon 7D II
Canon 180mm f/3.5L Macro
ISO 400
f/16
1/180sec
Accessories: Two flashguns
Post processing: Basic adjustments in ON1

Flickr: Alan Clark