How often do we pause to look beneath a leaf? Have you ever felt curious about the secret lives of insects and how they interact with trees or other creatures? Every tree we pass by holds a secret and a new story waiting to unfold. My story is about one such encounter: the interaction between a wasp and a tree.
I have often seen and captured groups of paper wasps quietly building their nests under leaves many times. And I am always amazed by these little architectures, and the way they construct their nests so meticulously and collaboratively.
This time, while strolling through a lush coffee plantation one afternoon in July, my curious mind, like always, prompted me to touch the leaves to feel their varying textures: some smooth, some rough, and some waxy. As I gently tilted my head to the left, lowering it a bit to check the underside, what I found was a lone paper wasp emerging from its nest under a leaf. A rare sight indeed to see a freshly emerged wasp, upside down, and its nest supported by a leaf of the tree.
The wasp was still clinging to its papery home that they make with chewy wood and their saliva, trusting the tree, and its leaves, feeling safe and protected, and was taking its time to adjust to the new world. It completed its lifecycle from egg to larva, to pupa to adult, all under the care of this tree and was ready to fly.
Wasps and other insects depend largely on trees: their leaves, branches, and tree hollows to complete their life cycles. During this period, trees provide them with food and protection from wind, rain and predators. Trees, like a mother, quietly raise wasps and many creatures. This moment reminded me of how trees quietly support life in ways we rarely notice.
In a rapidly changing world, where concrete outnumber canopies, witnessing a wasp’s birth under a tree leaf is a sacred moment that I will always cherish. Trees are not just for shade, backdrops for photos, and fruits; they are life-givers and provide invisible support to insects and other tiny creatures.
But, I still wondered how wasps interact with the tree throughout their two-month life cycle, as trees change with the seasons. How do they manage when leaves are falling? Do they emerge early or late, or on time with the changing climate patterns? I wish I had recorded this wasp’s entire journey from egg to adult stage. This encounter made me think about how insects and trees interact across the seasons.
I often think about other stories that quietly unfold beneath leaves that often go unnoticed by us. Nature has its way of surprising us only when we pause and observe. Next time, when you pass by trees, look closely; you might find a similar or different story unfolding beneath leaves, branches, or tree hollows, waiting to be shared with the world, but please don’t disturb them.
Each leaf holds a secret, and each tree nurtures a life that we may never know or see. Trees don’t speak or move, but in every season, they tell a different story. I would like to conclude this story with a famous quote by John Muir: “In every walk with nature, one receives more than he seeks.”
All photos by Sandhya Sharma.
About the author: Sandhya Sharma is a biologist, writer, and naturalist. Her curious mind always finds stories in small nature moments and she hopes her words help others see what often goes unnoticed; stories like this. Whether crafting articles, children’s books or blog posts, her words are rooted in a purpose: to educate, inspire, and awaken a sense of responsibility towards nature.
