Contributing to the delinquency of yellow jackets

Every time I've opened a door or window, these last few days, a yellow-jacket races in. I get the handy fly swatter, and shoo him out.  Next thing I know, he's back inside again.

I think it's the same one, every time, because ...

Sugar!

The first time he came in, I found him half-drowned in the aquarium, and put him on a paper towel to dry off. To keep him occupied, I gave him a generous pinch of sugar. On second thoughts, I added a blackberry drupelet, leaking juice. Healthier, more "natural", instead of empty calories; he would like that, I thought.

No, he said, the sugar is fine. He ate and ate, turning this way and that, not wanting to miss any. Several times, he walked over the blackberry seed, ignoring it, hurrying to get to the sugar beyond.

I put a glass over him and carried him outside.  He flew a few feet away when I took the glass off, then returned to the sugary paper towel. I left him to it.

Now he's addicted.

More! More! More!

How to stop a weevil in its tracks

I discovered a new trick yesterday. I found a very small weevil on my countertop, and tried to get his photo. He kept moving, and turning his back on me, changing direction if I thought I would anticipate him ... hopeless. I tempted him with strawberries, to no avail. I was going for a few grains of sugar, and saw the sugar cubes. I dampened one, just a bit, and gave it to him. Just the thing! He clambered up, checked out the corners, and settled down to load up on carbs.

"This tastes better than your old strawberries!"

Staying put.

I took all the photos I wanted. He never attempted to leave. He stayed there while I went about my business, and was still there half an hour later. And the sugar cube is easy to turn or move into better light. It makes a decent background, too; not too busy, not too white.

I'll have to try this with ants.