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!