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A Funny Thing I Heard About Wasps...

Wasps are beneficial insects. They lay their eggs on fly pupa and kill them by doing so. We would do well to leave them alone. Well... that's a true statement - kind of. Wasps are generally harmless, although yellowjackets, umbrella wasps and the infamous hornet can become a health and safety hazard for humans.

  • Fly Predators (muscidifurax zaraptor, trichomalopsis and muscidifurax raptorellus) are tiny wasps commonly marketed to reduce fly populations on farms and ranches. They have been successfully used for this purpose for over 30 years. Most of the wasps we deal with do not have this characteristic.
  • Umbrella Wasps (Polostes spp.) feed their young chewed up insects such as moths, flies and caterpillars. The egg and larval stages are spent on the protection of a chamber in the nest.
  • Yellowjackets (vespula spp.) are very similar, although their nests are secluded in the ground, wall voids, etc. Some feed their young chewed up flies, caterpillars and other insects while others feed on meat from carcasses, garbage and picnic tables. Yellowjackets also forage on sources of sugars and other carbohydrates from fruit, beer, and sweet beverages.
  • Mud Daubers (sphecid wasps) make their nests of mud as their name implies They feed their young spiders and are beneficial for this reason.
  • Ahhh... my favorite, the Digger Wasp :bigsmile: (scolia dubia). Their coloring of black and purple makes them a jewel! They also make nests of mud. They feed on beetle grubs and are generally beneficial.
  • I find these last two species fun to watch. While we all desire to live in harmony with nature, there are times to take appropriate action. Persons who are sensitive to stings should get a quote from a reputable, licensed pest control operator who has the experience, equipment and the most effective insecticides to get the job done.

    Happy bug watching!

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Comments

There are some creatures that people consider as pests, but pests are those who harm and bring nuisance to the community. As you said wasps are not harmless they are just ordinary insects that lives with us. I think they are much better than the Scottish Thistle. The Scottish Thistle is an annoying pest in yards, gardens, and pastures everywhere. Anyone who has had to remove any Scottish thistle knows how much extra cash you'd give to eradicate the plant forever. The Scottish or cotton thistle is also a cultural emblem to Scots, and it's often referred to as the Flower of Scotland. According to legend, a marauding Viking stepped on a plant during a nighttime raid, which alerted Scottish forces to their whereabouts – and crushed them. It's been an emblem to the Scottish Nation ever since. The plant was transplanted all over the world, so as much as it means to some, other would give a cash advance to rid their area of Scottish thistle.

haha reminds me of the wasp that was trying to eat the honey that was the wallpaper in my ipad. in the end the wasp got smacked against the screen and it's blood splashed on my ipad 2 cases. so sad.

I find these last two species fun to watch. While we all desire to live in harmony with nature, there are times to take appropriate action.

Hi, nice article with some really good information. Recently while i am go to hiking by using my Hiking GPS, i get sting by some bee i think. Than i try some tips from east, and its works. The tips is using the onion to reduce the pain from the bee stings. Its work well for me.

Than when i came back home and take a rest, drink some coffee from my new Nespresso D290, i can see the pain area is become red and after several hour its gone. Maybe the onion is works well.

Ok that all comment from me, i need to finish my book entitle how to build a chicken coop . yes i am backyard chicken lover. That all from me.