Widespread across the North Island and the upper South Island, the Asian paper wasp (Polistes chinensis) is an introduced predator with a complex ecological footprint in New Zealand. Though they hunt agricultural pests like aphids and caterpillars, they also heavily target beneficial pollinators and native monarch larvae.Yet, the adult wasp relies on a gentler fuel, pure floral sugar. This series captures them drawn to the flat, accessible yellow umbels of flowering fennel, a geometric favourite for the short tongued insect. Caught in this high energy pursuit, the usually aggressive wasps enter a docile, slow moving state, allowing the macro lens an unprecedented, peaceful look at a highly controversial species.
