Browsing: Wasp

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.