When I moved to the farm last fall, the activity of terrestrial arthropods was diminishing quickly as the cold arrived — a few lingering spiders, and some late honeybees in the asters, but on the whole pretty quiet.  As I’ve explored this winter, though, I’ve discovered a fantastic profusion of wasp nests of various sorts, suggesting that this place will be hopping with flying invertebrates this summer.  I found this small mud dauber wasp (perhaps made by the black-and-yellow mud dauber, Sceliphron caementarium) nest attached to the baling twine on a bale of hay, but as I look around, the barn is absolutely filled with these beautiful forms.  If the snow ever stops, I’ll get to meet the nest builders some day as well.