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THERE ARE OVER 10,000 SPECIES OF WASPS DOCUMENTED IN THE UNITED STATES!
Wasps tend to look like bees, but they are generally not covered with fuzzy hairs. Because of this, wasps tend to not be efficient at pollinating flowers because pollen is less likely to stick to their bodies and be moved from flower to flower.
Wasps have 2 pairs of wings, are not hairy or will have few hairs that do NOT carry pollen.
They have short-elbowed antennae and a pinched abdomen.
Wasps have a predominantly carnivorous diet but will occasionally eat nectar. Some species will feed pollen to their young.
Wasps will either be solitary, meaning they prefer to live alone, or social, meaning those that live in colonies of up to 10,000 individuals!
Benefits of Wasps:
Benefits of Wasps:
Wasps help with pollination, predation and parasitism. What makes them beneficial as predators is that they tend to go after pests like caterpillars, flies, crickets, and more. They can really help with regulating populations of pests that often damage crops, which makes them really valuable to agriculture.
wasps of Texas
wasps of Texas
cicada killer wasp
cicada killer wasp
These are the largest species of wasps that are found in Texas, but they are not a threat to humans! Adults can reach up to 1-1/2 in. in length and they will have a rusty red and brown head and thorax, with yellow and black bands around the abdomen. Males don't have a stinger, so they won't pose a threat! Females have a stinger but will only sting if they feel attacked. They are considered a solitary species so you will not find hives of them.
This species is in threat in Texas! Due to the discovery of the Asian Giant Hornet found in Washington in 2020, people in TX have been targeting Cicada Killers, mistaking them for the Asian Giant hornets.
paper wasp
paper wasp
This species is the most common type of wasp found in Texas and they are typically a semi-social species. They are about 1 in. long and will vary in color from reddish brown, to brown or yellow.
This species also will prey on other insects, in turn helping keep pest populations under control. For instance, they will occasionally carry caterpillars and leaf beetle larvae back to their nests to feed their own young.
Mud-Dauber wasp
Mud-Dauber wasp
These wasps will vary in size from 3/4 to 1 in. in length and they can vary in color between species. The key identifying feature of muddaubers is their narrow "waist," also known as the petiole, that connects the thorax to the abdomen. These are solitary insects and they will construct their nests out of mud (hence where the name comes from!) and place them under eaves, in garages, or any protected area.
Wasps as pollinators
Wasps as pollinators
A Species of Hammer Orchid from Australia which solely relies on wasps for pollination; Source
Wasps are an important member of those who pollinate! Some wasps may be considered as 'generalist' which means they visit several plant species, however many wasp species are 'specialized' pollinators, meaning they are very selective in their flower choices. They will either favor one or a few select species of plants. Because of this, wasps are critically important in different regions and ecosystems throughout the globe.
For instance:
Wasps are known for their special relationship with Orchids, with about 100 species of orchids solely relying on wasps for pollination.
Which plants attract wasps?
Which plants attract wasps?
Wasps are attracted to all sorts of flowers, but specific characteristics attract them more. Flowers that are blue, white, purple and yellow are the most attractive to wasps. Some flowers that tend to attract wasps, only attract them because they're interested in the insects at those plants. For instance, wasps are attracted to Spearmint because of the other insects attracted to the plants' white flower and the same goes for Queen Anne's Lace, a type of wild carrot.
Paper wasps and yellow jackets especially, are attracted to fruit trees because of the sweet, ripe fruit. For instance, the fig wasp is notorious for its relationship with the fig tree [see photo]. There are roughly 900 species of fig tree wasp, which have helped in pollinating one of the world's 900 species of fig tree.
Example of a Fig Tree; Source
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