Wasps often suffer from a bad reputation as aggressive pests. However, they serve a vital role in the ecosystem as nature's pest controllers. Furthermore, they possess incredible intelligence and complex social structures. Consequently, these buzzing insects are far more interesting than just a summer nuisance. Explore these fascinating details about the misunderstood hunter.
Wasps
Unlike bees, wasps can sting multiple times. Specifically, their stingers are smooth rather than barbed. Therefore, they do not pull their insides out when they attack, so they survive the encounter.
Surprisingly, most wasps are solitary creatures. While we fear the large swarms, the vast majority of species live alone. Consequently, these solitary hunters rarely sting humans unless we handle them directly.
Fig wasps die inside the fruit to pollinate it. Tragically, the female squeezes into the fig to lay her eggs. Then, the fruit releases enzymes that digest her body completely before we eat it.
Paper wasps can recognize individual faces. remarkably, they use facial patterns to identify friendly colony members. Thus, they attack outsiders who do not match the specific look of their family.
They essentially invented paper thousands of years ago. Industriously, they chew wood fibers and mix them with saliva. This process creates a durable paper pulp that they use to build their intricate nests.
The Emerald Jewel Wasp turns cockroaches into zombies. Terrifyingly, it injects venom directly into the roach’s brain. Then, it leads the paralyzed victim to its burrow to feed its young.
Only the Queen survives the winter. Sadly, the rest of the colony dies off when the cold weather arrives. The Queen hides in a warm crevice and hibernates until spring to start a new family.
Wasps produce a pheromone that calls for backup. When you squash a wasp, it releases a chemical scent. Immediately, this signal enrages other nearby wasps and commands them to attack you.
Male wasps cannot sting you. Biologically, the stinger is a modified egg-laying organ called an ovipositor. Since males do not lay eggs, they lack the weapon entirely.
The Tarantula Hawk wasp has one of the most painful stings on Earth. Victims describe the pain as “blinding” and “electric.” Fortunately, the pain only lasts for about five minutes.
They unintentionally helped create wine. Specifically, wasps harbor natural yeast cells in their guts during the winter. They transfer this yeast to grapes in the summer, which helps start fermentation.
Adult wasps cannot digest solid food. Interestingly, they capture bugs only to feed them to their larvae. In return, the larvae produce a sweet liquid that the adults drink for energy.
Some species practice social parasitism. Sneakily, a Queen from one species will invade the nest of another. She kills the resident Queen and forces the workers to raise her own eggs.
They come in many colors besides yellow and black. For example, the Cuckoo Wasp displays a brilliant metallic blue or green body. This armor protects it when it invades other nests.
Finally, they save crops by eating pests. Voraciously, they consume millions of aphids and caterpillars every year. Without wasps, these pests would destroy significant amounts of human food supplies.
