Wasp in flight. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a wasp (Vespa sp.) in flight. Its large compound eyes (grey) are prominent on its head.

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Wasp in flight. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a wasp (Vespa sp.) in flight. Its large compound eyes (grey) are prominent on its head. Between the eyes are its antennae, used for sensing smells. Its jaws can be seen below its eyes. Most wasps are social insects, living in a nest founded in the spring by a lone queen. The queen concentrates on egg laying, while the workers gather food and tend the young. In the autumn, the workers leave the nest to die, while the queen prepares herself for hibernation. Magnification unknown.

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Size: 3543px × 2886px
Photo credit: © VOLKER STEGER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, antenna, eye, flight, flying, head, insect, insecta, invertebrate, invertebrates, jaw, jointed, legs, nature, sem, sp., type, vespa, wasp, wildlife, zoology