on Mint Flowers
The four-toothed mason wasp can be identified by its size, being less than an inch in wingspan and length. The small white spot between their eyes and directly underneath their antennae can also be used to identify four-toothed mason wasps. A four-toothed mason wasp is entirely black, with the exception of some small white markings on the top of its abdomen, at the bottom of its thorax, on the shoulders, and on the lower parts of its wings.
As adults, four-toothed mason wasps eat nectar from flowers, whereas larvae feed on caterpillars. The female four-toothed mason wasps sting, but they must be provoked to do so because they are not aggressive in nature. One distinctive feature of four-toothed mason wasps is that even the males “sting”, using their pointy abdomens to dig into the skin. Despite the fact that male four-toothed mason wasps lack stingers, their “sting” still causes minor discomfort, about the same pain as a pin prick. The four-toothed mason wasp is found throughout North America, including Mexico.
This was a tiny (about ½ inch at most), little guy.
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Thursday US COVID News
Currently, Missouri ranks #5 in the highest cases of COVID per capita.
New York Times
“A fan who attended the Kansas City Chiefs' opening night game at Arrowhead Stadium on September 10 has tested positive for Covid-19. The positive test has prompted the Kansas City Health Department to direct 10 people there to quarantine after potential exposure to the coronavirus. The Kansas City Chiefs were one of the few teams in the NFL that allowed fans into its stadium in Week 1.”
CNN
“The share of Americans who would be willing to get a coronavirus vaccine if it were available today has dropped significantly from a few months ago, according to a new survey from Pew Research Center. An overwhelming 78 percent expressed concerns that the approval process will be too hasty, without fully establishing that the vaccine is safe and effective. Health and science experts say that President Trump’s repeated swipes at government scientists have undermined public trust, and reduced confidence in an eventual vaccine.”
Washington Post
In other words, our current president has made Americans extremely concerned if a rushed vaccine (based on political motives) will “safe” or “effective”. Will it protect them or harm them??? A 40% drop in those, who previously were willing to take a vaccine when available, is a huge drop. This number is not made up of the “anti-vaxers” or those who were just undecided. As said, the dramatic drop comes from those who normally would have taken a coronavirus vaccine; up until politics got involved. America is in crisis. In many ways.
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