When I went hiking last weekend I found a huge patch of tamarisk flowers (Tamarix sp.) that were filled with all sorts of fall pollinators. I probably could have stayed there all afternoon because every time I was ready to go, I’d spot another bee or wasp that I hadn’t photographed yet. One of my favorite wasps there were the little five banded thynnid wasps (Myzinum quinquecinctum). Thynnid wasps are pretty small and known for being very docile, although active. In the photo above, it looks like it has one heck of a stinger, but actually it’s a ovipositor that allows the females to place their eggs where they want them. The females actually don’t even have a stinger! Because they’re pretty active they’re not the easiest wasps to get pictures of, but a thynnid was one of the first insects and the first wasp that I ever got a decent shot of with my macro lens. That gives them a special place in my heart, so between that, the fact that they’re very pretty, and that they’re docile puts them up on that favorites list. Give me a favorite wasp in some beautiful fall flowers and I’m a happy camper, or hiker as the case may be.