This weeks Friday Fictioneers (thanks, as always, Rochelle) 100 word ‘writing challenge’ for those who want to participate (great fun – give it a try) is the following photo prompt:
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Copyright-Janet Webb
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The yellow jacket. Yes, sets things off quite nicely. Dressed for the occasion, she savors the idea of fresh prey, mouth-watering. Today was going to be a very good day. All her senses, alert and alive. An old nest discarded nearby, didn’t matter. New worlds to explore. New prey to devour. A new nest for her little ones. Food at the ready, when they hatched. Time to protect. Time to kill!
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*Wasps feed on nectar and pollen, but they are primarily predators, preferring a diet of insects and spiders. Only the female wasps are equipped with stingers. Originally the stinger was also used to plant eggs into the body of her living but paralyzed prey (Now nesting is utilized). The female wasp fiercely guards the nest! (No joke!)
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Thanks for stopping by, have a great day.
~ Penny
The Why About This 
A great take on the photo Penny, as always. 🙂
Thanks LuAnn. The wasps in our neighborhood ‘love’ our yard unfortunately, so I’m very familiar with this little creatures!:)
I’m scared!
They are scary aren’t they? Helpful in nature, but I still do not care for wasps either!Thanks for commenting!
Good story Penny and an interesting bit of information after it. Why am I not surprised that it is only the girls that sting? 🙂
Thank you, I think we each have our own way of stinging, if one things about it for a bit 😉
I love how you brought it down to the level of the hornet. Impressive one.
Thank you Björn. Very much!
A bit frightening, and the additional photo helps! Nice writing.
Thank you very much. I was lucky with the photo, it certainly portrays her in the right light doesn’t it!
Very imaginative to put yourself into her position. Chilling to hear the single-minded purpose, sounds like she really likes being a predator to me!
Thanks Ann, I had to do a little research recently on bees and wasps (unrelated to the FF challenge) and learned that they (wasps) have been quite the predators for millions of years. Had a long time to perfect things I’m guessing.
Looks like you did your homework! Great story – mine had a male wasp with a sting originally, but I changed it to a she at the last minute. Glad I did!
I didn’t know that myself until I did a little research recently for another reason. That’s when I learned they were also quite the predator. Thanks for the comment!
Dear Penny,
I’ve been known to give up my house to a wasp. I’m terrified of them. Thanks for the bit of education…I still don’t like them. 😉 Incredible photo you added.
shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle, I feel pretty much the same about the little critters and they seem to love my backyard unfortunately! 😦
I like it when I learn something from our FF forays. I didn’t know that about wasps. And it doesn’t make me like them any better. Well done.
Thanks Sandra, glad to share (re: the info). I don’t like them any better either!
great story as always. i really admire your writing style.. your connection with nature. well done
Thanks kz, very much appreciated!
She sure knows her job. interesting how even their body is very strong not easy to destroy
Thank you, I would most definitely agree with you about the female wasp and her nature.
I like that you added another picture. Cool writing from the wasp’s perspective. I imagine you’ve captured what runs in their minds as they hunt.
Thank you, I like to think so, maybe not too interested in how they’re dressed though! 🙂
Each beast and critter has their own place. Not so sure about vampires though 🙂
Thanks for your visit and support.
Vampires definitely have their place jules, (most especially their teeth)! lol 🙂
Inside the mind of the wasp predator… but balanced with a desire to protect the young ones. Well done to mix both of those together.
Thank you, very much!
Thanks for the info. Great write, as usual
Thanks Celestine, I sort of felt a little like a show on the science discovery channel, lol!
i do not feel threatened by bees. Of course I am not allergic to them. i Know they have usefulness in nature and I enjoyed this information.
Thanks Joe. Yes, I was definitely adding emotional characteristics that the wasp certainly does not possess. Her instinct for survival and the wasps necessary place in the natural order of nature is true.
Wasps are realy useful in nature. A wasp nest destroys a huge amound of insects. Therefore they are used more and more in modern agriculture pestcontrole. And yes, they have a pretty effective wapon system but they need it in the first place to kill there prey and to defend themselves against a large number of predators like mamals, birds, fish, reptiles… etc.
And in summer during your garden diner they will find easely all that sweet stuff on your table 🙂
It is good to know that a lot of species become agressive by alcohol and parfume (sorry ladies).
So, they are not my best friends but we need them badly to keep nature in balance.
I agree completely with you, Ludwig. The human emotion I added to my fictional piece is missing in nature. The wasp plays a large role in the natural order of things. Thank you very much for commenting on this subject – the balance of nature, it is an important one. 🙂
beware of wasp ! enjoyed the story as well as the information at the end
Thank you Shreyank!
AnElephantCant deny it
He doesn’t like wopses at all
And this one is scary
She is very clearly
The original femme fatale
She is indeed my friend, and of course unlike lots of other species, wasps are far from being extinct. Actually they are of huge value to mother natures eco system. 🙂
AnElephantCant believe this
Is Penny really saying what he thinks
Wopses are cool
And the Queen likes to rule
But it’s AnElephant who really, er, stinks
Good for her little ones, but bad for the others. a good take on the prompt
Thanks Padmini! 🙂
A very different direction with the prompt – loved it 🙂
Thanks Lyn! 🙂
Enjoyed the information and the predator/protector relationship. Very well narrated.
🙂
Very realistic indeed: Yellow jackets are like the bullies among insets: they attack even if they know why: you do!
Wow… that second pic says it all. Now I know where to come for Bug Advice… I like what you did. Yellow Jacket indeed!
Quite menacing, that wasp.
I KNEW there was a reason I didn’t like wasps!!
Love that second picture. Mommy wasp really looks predatory! And protective 🙂
Thanks Carrie, I recently had to do some research (working with a child to overcome his – huge – fear of bees and wasps), so I myself was quite surprised to see just how aggressive and committed the female wasp is.) Thanks for commenting! 🙂
Like Alastair – I like how you added the factual tid-bit after your write. The close-up of the wasp makes her look fierce! I can be fierce too. But – unlike her – I prefer to eat sweet nectar & pollen instead of bugs & spiders.
xx 🙂 🙂 xx
Love that up-close and too-personal picture you added at the end, although I’m glad there wasn’t one in my picture. 🙂 I like how you used the jacket metaphor, too.
janet
More than I wanted to know about the little buggers that have me rushing for the EPI should I be attacked, but a great write none the less. (((xx)))
I like that story, and the information afterwards is … informative. I always wondered what wasps were good for. Besides using my electric bat and hearing them go CRACK when they hit it. Doesn’t happen often though thankfully.