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Posted: **Thu Oct 06, 2005 12:58 pm**

I'm a little nervous around these guys as I've been stung in the past - Very painful...

I'm tempted to take a closeup of the nest that they've built at the front of our house, but everything I've read says:
STAY AWAY!!!!!!

80-400VR with +2 filter, 1/160 f36 with Flash.

Posted: **Thu Oct 06, 2005 1:23 pm**

But if it's just paper, why not throw water on it and make it all soggy so it can't fly! :lol:

Nah... in all seriousness... this might be where long lens + macro works.

Posted: **Thu Oct 06, 2005 1:39 pm**

Leek this is where a Sigma 180 macro comes in handy
.Please don't tell me it is that time of the year already NSW Christmas Bush? Or is just a late flowering tree from last year :wink:

LOZ

Posted: **Thu Oct 06, 2005 2:20 pm**

What an amazing shot! I can appreciate how difficult that must have been to get!

Posted: **Thu Oct 06, 2005 2:37 pm**

LOZ wrote:Leek this is where a Sigma 180 macro comes in handy
.Please don't tell me it is that time of the year already NSW Christmas Bush? Or is just a late flowering tree from last year LOZ

I'm afraid it is nearly that time of year again... :-)

Our bush (well tree actually) flowers white at about this time of year and then all the flowers drop off and the bush turns a nice shade of red for Christmas. The red actually is the husk around the flower and not a flower itself...
When they dry out and fall off, they frequently end up sticking into your bare feet...

Posted: **Thu Oct 06, 2005 6:21 pm**

Toxicity
These wasps can deliver painful stings, but are not as aggressive as European Wasps. They normally only attack humans if their nest is disturbed. If stings are multiple, a more severe systemic reaction may occur.

In some individuals, wasp, bee and ant stings can cause an allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), but this is relatively uncommon. Effective treatment is available, which involves known bee/ant/wasp sting allergy sufferers carrying a special kit when outdoors. Immunotherapy or desensitisation therapy is also available, and can reduce the severity of the allergy. Seven deaths over a twenty-year period attributed to wasp stings have been recorded in Australia, mainly among known allergy sufferers who were not carrying their preventative medicine with them.

Posted: **Thu Oct 06, 2005 7:00 pm**

Mine flowers about 6 months of the year. I think it's a freak bush.

Nice wasp. I have watched these things 'flit' about the garden many times and never knew what they were called.

Posted: **Thu Oct 06, 2005 11:31 pm**

Thanks to all for their comments or health advice...

Oh... BTW... Did I mention that this was hand-held??? :-)

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Paper Wasp on NSW Christmas Bush

Paper Wasp on NSW Christmas Bush