wasp

wasp facts

Most wasps build their nests out of chewed wood or dirt!

Wasps are one of the most diverse creatures in the world, as there are more than 100,000 species of these insects worldwide. While most people think of wasps as aggressive insects that live in groups, the vast majority of wasps are peaceful, solitary creatures.

Although related to bees and ants, wasps are characterized by their elongated, smooth bodies with little or no hair. They also have a narrow petiole, or "waist," that connects the abdomen to the thorax.

6 Unbelievable Wasp Facts

• There are two types of wasps: gregarious and solitary. Most wasps are solitary, meaning they prefer to live alone, while social wasps live in colonies of up to 10,000 individuals.

• Wasps live on every continent in the world except Antarctica.

• Their venom contains a pheromone that other wasps become more aggressive when they smell it.

• Wasps can attack repeatedly because their stingers are not as stinging as bees.

• In late summer, the young, fertilized queens will burrow into an old log or other structure, where they hibernate while all other wasps die. In the spring, these queens start new colonies.

• The largest wasp in the world is the tarantula hawk, which can reach a length of 2.7 inches. Tarantula hawks deliver a painful sting and have a wingspan of up to 4.5 inches.

scientific name

Wasps are members of the Hymenoptera and Apocrita suborders. The social wasps are probably the most familiar species, with about 1,000 species in the Vespidae family.

Wasps, including the eastern hornet ( Vespula maculifrons ), southern hornet ( Vespula squamosa ), and bald hornet ( Dolichovespula Immaculata ), belong to the superfamily Vespinae.

Types of wasps include the bumblebee, which nests above ground, and the hornet, which nests underground. Solitary bees are also members of the superfamily Vespaoidae, but also members of the superfamily Apioidea and Apioidoidea.

evolution and origin

The evolution and origin of wasps can be traced back to the Jurassic period about 150 million years ago, and they are believed to have evolved from a common ancestor with other Hymenoptera such as bees and ants.

Wasps have undergone a process of diversification that has led to the evolution of different subfamilies and genera, each with distinct traits and behaviors, such as hunting, scavenging, and social behavior.

The development of their stingers for hunting and defense is thought to have played a key role in their long-term survival and success.

different types of wasps

• Yellow jacket ( Vespula and Dolichovespula spp.)
• Paper Wasp ( Polistes spp.)
• Wasp ( Vespa spp.)
• Slime Applicator ( Sceliphron spp.)
• Cicada Killer ( Sphecius spp.)
• Tarantula hawk ( Pepsis and Hemipepsis spp.)
• Big black bee ( Sphex pensylvanicus )
• European hornet ( Vespa crabro )
• Common Wasp ( Vespula vulgaris )
• German Wasp ( Vespula germanica )
• Asian hornet ( Vespa mandarinia )
• Bald hornet ( Dolichovespula maculata )
• Black and Yellow Clay Applicator ( Sceliphron caementarium )
• Blue slime applicator ( Chalybion californicum )
• Eastern cicada killer ( Sphecius speciosus )
• European Paper Wasp ( Polistes dominulus )
• Golden bee ( Sphex ichneumoneus )
• Red Hornet ( Polistes carolina )
• Wasp ( Bembix spp.)
• Velvet Ant ( Dasymutilla spp.)
• Cicada Killer ( Sphecius grandis )
• Western Paper Wasp ( Polistes fuscatus )
• Black and yellow argiope ( Argiope aurantia )
• Black Red Clay Applicator ( Sceliphron caementarium )
• Black and Yellow Garden Spider ( Argiope aurantia )
• Common Eastern Hornet ( Bombus impatiens )
• Oriental yellow jacket ( Vespula maculifrons )
• European Paper Wasp ( Polistes dominulus )

appearance and behavior

Many wasp species, especially hornets, have yellow and black markings, which is why many people commonly confuse them with bees. Although the yellow jacket is named for its appearance, some subspecies come in different colors, covering almost all colors.

Habitat

All wasps build nests, and while their houses look similar to those bees build, they are made of paper. They build their home by chewing wood fibers into pulp through their hard mandibles, which they then secrete into a honeycomb.

diet

These insects are omnivores, which means they eat a variety of foods. Similar to bees, they love sweets such as nectar, honey, fruit, tree sap, and human food. Like bees, they are often involved in the pollination of plants in the search for nutrients.

However, they also eat almost any pest that harms crops, including grasshoppers, aphids, flies, caterpillars, and even bees, among other garden pests, making them valuable partners in fruit and vegetable reproduction. When looking for food, they usually move half a kilometer away from their nests.

Predators and Threats

Wasps are preyed on by many different types of animals around the world, including birds, reptiles and amphibians. At least 24 bird species feed on them, but they tend to prey on solitary species. Other insects that feed on them include praying mantises, dragonflies, robber flies, and even other wasps. Some mammals, such as mice, rats, skunks, raccoons, weasels, wolverines, and badgers, also risk the occasional wasp attack to eat the insect.

The Japanese and Laotians eat the larvae and are considered a delicacy.

Reproduction, Babies and Longevity

population

More than 110,000 of these insects have been identified, and scientists believe there are 100,000 more to be identified. A recent study identified 186 new species in the rainforest of Costa Rica. Therefore, wasps are not in danger of extinction anytime soon.

Common Types of Wasps

• Yellow Jackets – Yellow jackets are a common type of wasp found in North America. Most yellow jackets have a yellow and black banded belly, although some are black and white or red and yellow. These insects are social and live in colonies of worker ants, drones, and queens.
• Cicada Killer – The Cicada Killer is a large wasp that grows up to 2 inches long with a black to red breast and a reddish brown belly with yellow stripes. These wasps are solitary insects, named for their prey on cicadas.
• Wasps – Wasps are the largest of the social wasps, with some species reaching a length of 2.2 inches. These insects have venomous spines that they use to kill prey and protect their nests. A hornet's sting can be more painful than a bee's sting, and hornets can sting repeatedly without dying or losing their stinger.
• Paper Wasps – Paper wasps vary in color, usually brown and yellow or red and brown, with smaller waists and black wings. These wasps gather fibers from dead wood and plants to build paper-like nests. Unlike yellow jackets and bumblebees, these insects only become aggressive when they (or their nests) are threatened.
• Mud Daubers – "Mud Dauber" is a common name that can be used to refer to wasps that build their nests out of mud. These slender wasps can reach a length of about 1 inch and usually have a black body with yellow markings. Mud nests are cylindrical tubes commonly found in urban areas.

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