The cache is not at the posted coordinates. Instead you will have to find them somewhere on this cache page. The final is within 3 km of the posted.

Please, NO photos of the cache itself.

INTRODUCTION:

We've had fun putting these caches out and everybody seems to be having fun finding them (unless of course, certain insects are out to "get you"). So, we are putting out more (caches, not insects). The theme this time is INSECTS (as you've already figured out by the title). Some of these you may encounter on your geocaching trips and some of them you may wish you had not. Instead of a steady line of caches down the trail, we thought we'd try something new for us. All are easy puzzle caches and the geoart is one of our favorite insects: the dragonfly - as it eats what annoys us all the most: mosquitoes.

TRANSPORTATION:

The K&P trail is a single lane dirt road with gravel on it in some areas. You can hike it, bike it or drive it albeit very slowly. When placing the caches we never drove over 15 km/hr. Mostly it was at about 10 km/hr. Just when you think it's smooth going a huge puddle hole will "get" you. On bikes, you will have no trouble except if you go out after heavy rain (or during rainfall) as it will be muddy in areas. On foot, be aware that there are very few houses along the way - so don't go alone. Safety in numbers. There are some pretty streams along the way, wetlands and Graham Lake just North of Lavant Station (a nice place for a picnic lunch).

INSECT:

For every colony of northern^N paper wasps, one queen calls the shots. As a species characterized by its colonies and reproductive dominance, northern paper wasps take their lead from the ⁴behavioral patterns of their female leader. And the queen means business: she uses threatening postures to establish hierarchy ⁵over her subordinates.

The paper wasp nest might be the first sign that you’ve got unwanted⁰ company. Look for an open-celled paper nest above doorways, in rafters or under the eaves of roofs. In the summer, nests⁵ can grow quickly to a width of 6 to 8 inches.^.
Paper Wasps have:
Slender bodies⁵ with a distinct “waist”
Reddish-brown body with yellow bands
Females have a venomous sting, males do not
Males have curved tips of antennae and more⁰ yellow colouring
Size: 15 to 21 mm

Watch for a variety of patterns² on the abdomen and thorax and some have yellow splotches, long stripes, small dots or a combination of patterns.

Wood is a major feature of the northern paper ^Wwasp habitat. The species commonly inhabits woodlands, savannas and built ⁰wooden environments – all places where resources for nest building are available. Interestingly, this species uses its ⁷oral fluid to create a pulp-⁶like paste, used as “concrete” for binding wood together.

Northern paper wasp populations⁴ are found throughout temperate North America, from³ southern Canada to Central America.

Similar to other wasp species,^. great northern wasps lay fertilized eggs in individual nest cells. Queen bees and subordinate females protect the larvae and cover them with a silk protective lining. The first generation of larvae develops into infertile females, which are the workers of the colony. Next to mature are the males and fertile females, which are the next generation of queens. And¹ then the lifecycle starts over: queens lay the next generations of queens and die. Average life span is about one year.

Subsisting primarily² on plant nectar, adult northern paper wasps are considered omnivores and insectivores, foraging for caterpillars and small insects to provide food for developing larvae. Once a wasp captures prey, it malaxates the food, orally softening it enough to absorb its⁵ liquid and then regurgitating the solid remains to feed to its young.

Northern Paper Wasp

Northern Paper Wasp Nest