Bluebottle wasp

Thanks Mark. Some moments provide a smorgasbord of interesting creatures and an eternal memory.

Here is another link showing the marked sexual dimorphism of this species of wasp. http://agspsrv34.agric.wa.gov.au/ento/images/D_bicolor.jpg

This wasp has no wings and is accompanied by its seldom seen (winged) male wasp. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/11123988

This thorny box is the only nectar source on a hilltop in Yarra Bend park. It is an insect magnet. The same bush attracted beetles last week http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/8260143 and lots of pintail beetles too. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/8263222

It seems the male is hardly seen so I'm quite exited to find this. I think they were mating (pic#2) when I interfered. I was also quite surprised to find them at about 2m up in a Sweet Bursaria bush. Research reveals an alias of 'flower wasp'.