Wasps are flying insects known for their role in the ecosystem as predators and pollinators. Belonging to the order Hymenoptera, which also includes bees and ants, wasps are distinguished by their pointed lower abdomens and a narrow “waist,” called a petiole, that separates the abdomen from the thorax. They are diverse in behavior and appearance, with over 30,000 identified species ranging from the solitary wasps, which live and breed independently, to social wasps, which reside in colonies. Social wasps, such as yellow jackets and hornets, are often what people think of when they hear “wasp,” and they can be aggressive if their nests are threatened. Wasps are beneficial to gardens and agriculture due to their predation on pests, but their stings can be painful and, for allergic individuals, potentially life-threatening.
A Unique Discovery in Amber Fossil researchers have discovered a novel genus and species of tiny wasp with a mysterious, bulbous structure at the end…
The Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve in Peru is frequently hailed as the world’s most biodiverse rainforest. This reputation is bolstered by the discovery of multiple new…
A recent exploration in Vietnam for the elusive Loboscelidia, a type of parasitoid wasp, has expanded the global count of known species by 30% and…
Advanced genetic techniques reveal several look-alike parasitoid wasps previously grouped as one species. A common refrain among biologists holds that the majority of Earth’s plant…
Lab waits to see how Houston’s historic 2021 freeze impacted tiny wasp species. Its name sounds legendary, but the newly discovered insect Neuroterus (noo-ROH’-teh-rus) valhalla…
Wasps deserve to be just as highly valued as other insects, like bees, due to their roles as predators, pollinators, and more, according to a…
A brand new species of parasitic cuckoo wasp was discovered based on its clever use of pheromones. Cuckoo wasps – also called emerald wasps –…
Wasps provide crucial support to their extended families by babysitting at neighboring nests, according to new research by a team of biologists from the universities…
The banyan fig tree Ficus microcarpa is famous for its aerial roots, which sprout from branches and eventually reach the soil. The tree also has…
Banyan trees are fig trees that begin their life as an epiphyte. The most noticeable feature of banyan Ficus species is their extraordinary aerial roots,…
Over a period of 39 months, invasive keyhole wasps (Pachodynerus nasidens) at the Brisbane Airport were responsible for 93 instances of fully blocked replica pitot…
Multiple approaches used to investigate adaptive coloration of Dasymutilla gloriosa. Driving across the arid American Southwest, one views miles upon miles of scrubby creosote bushes….
A newly published study shows how Brazilian wasp venom selectively kills cancer cells without harming normal cells. The social wasp Polybia paulista protects itself against…
Cockroaches feed on garbage and carrion, so anything that’s devouring a cockroach from the inside out must contend with a variety of disease-causing microbes. Now,…
It’s been reported that the common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, drinks alcohol to kill the wasps that have hatched inside of its body, which would…
Don’t judge the brain of the Paper Wasp by its size. Their brains are less than a millionth the size of human brains, but they…