← Home
← Back
WASPS
Wasps are in the insect order Hymenoptera along with ants and bees. Bees are the descendants of a wasp ancestor. There are over 100,000 identified wasps worldwide, but wasps are understudied and there are believed to be thousands of more species. They grow in the metamorphosis life cycle made up of four stages: egg, larva, pupa (cocoon for wasps) and adult. Wasps do not broadly get a lot of recognition as pollinators, likely because they are more known for being predatory or parasitic to other insects. However, this behavior is often to provide nutrition for their young. Some wasps are parasitic of larva, for example they can lay their eggs inside the live caterpillar and the young grow inside. Other wasps feed their young insects or other protein directly. As adults, many feed on pollen or nectar from flowers, so they are frequent floral visitors. Most wasp species are solitary and most nest below ground. Because of their predatory and parasitic nature, they are wonderful pest managers in our ecosystems.
Use this guide to identify wasps in our region.
Use this guide to identify galls made by wasps and other insects.
MORE RESOURCES:
Wasp Pollination | United States Forest Service
Reconsidering Wasps | The National Wildlife Federation
Bees vs. Wasps: What Stings | Pollinator Partnership
Wasps: The Astonishing Diversity of a Misunderstood Insect | By Eric Eaten
For the Love of Wasps: Good Bugs that Get a Bad Name | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign