It’s easy to dismiss wasps as nothing but the bane of the summertime. They arrive, sting us and leave without actually contributing. But this is a biased description, as the insects help with flower pollination and can also be a useful tool for farmers when talking about getting rid of crop parasites.
The word wasp can applied to a massive range of insects. In systematic terms it customarily refers to an insect of the order Hymenoptera and belonging to the sub-order Apocrita. More familiar terms for wasps might include wasps or yellowjackets, but these actually refer to different genera in the Vespidae family ; there are numerous other kinds of wasp belonging to other families.
However, the word is most often used to explain the yellowjacket. The clue’s in the name : the characteristic yellow and black striped markings which make this winged insect so recognizable. In US vernacular the word wasp refers to a range of insects, including the yellowjacket ; in Europe the word is nearly completely reserved for the yellowjackets themselves.
Unlike bees, which sleep over the winter, wasp colonies tend to die out in the cold months. They reappear when the weather warms up, customarily beginning from a queen and a single male drone. Over time the population of a nest or colony can reach several thousand, with the insects wandering for nectar or looking for prey.
Nests are made from wood pulp and are usually built in sheltered spots, which is when the insects can come into conflict with humans.
For many folks the flash of yellow and black and the low buzzing sound of wasps are the things they dread most about the summer. But although they can be a nuisance capable of delivering an evil sting, it’s worth remembering that out in the fields our winged allies are really working for us to keep the pests in order.