Face-to-face

There've been a few queen wasps homing in on our jasmine this week. It's mighty close to the shed where they've attempted to set up residence a few times.  Yesterday, I painted the shed in left over rank oak - it looked hideous and I ran out (thankfully) but it was, at least, sealed. Today, I've painted the shed cornflower blue and I'm hoping the smell might put them off.  

Wasp and I had some lovely face-to-face time and I've never before seen beyond their black eyes.  I don't know if the light was just catching them right or if this mottled colour is peculiar to the queen.