Wasps, Bees & Ants

Information about Wasps:

A wasp is a flying insect member of the order Hymenoptera that is neither a bee nor an ant. This includes hornets and yellow jackets. They are very frequently parasitical in nature, and nearly every type of insect has at least one species of wasp that preys upon it or uses it for parasite purposes. For this reason, many wasps are critical in containing pest species in what is called “natural biocontrol.”

Apart from having a painful sting, wasps are generally helpful to humans because they keep population of pest insects in check. Apart from the few wingless species, wasps have two sets of wings, an ovipositor or “stinger”, very little hair compared to bees, and sometimes will live solitary existences and will either be completely nomadic, or have burrows dug into the earth. But when wasps do live in colonies, the manner of nest depends on the species.

Some wasps produce nest made primarily of paper pulp which is chewed up wood fiber. Others use a mixture of matter, which can include synthetic materials like plastic or fabric. Many wasps possess extremely painful stings, and unlike bees who can only sting once, wasps can sting multiple times. The Tarantula Hawk Wasp’s sting is considered to be one of the most painful of any stinging insect.