I'm not sure what's going on here. I assume some symbiotic relationship between the wasp and these bugs (aphids?). Cleaning up? Maybe Ted MacRay could offer an explanation. Ted reports: The nymphs look like they belong to the genus Aetalion, a primitive family of treehoppers (order Hemiptera) - I can see an adult in the lower left, which helps with the ID. Treehoppers suck plant sap and excrete excess sugars as 'honeydew' - I presume the wasp is there lapping up the sweet sticky stuff. Treehoppers are often guarded by ants, who protect them from predators in exchange for their honeydew.
regards--ted
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The nymphs look like they belong to the genus Aetalion, a primitive family of treehoppers (order Hemiptera) - I can see an adult in the lower left, which helps with the ID. Treehoppers suck plant sap and excrete excess sugars as 'honeydew' - I presume the wasp is there lapping up the sweet sticky stuff. Treehoppers are often guarded by ants, who protect them from predators in exchange for their honeydew.
regards--ted
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