MSN: Why Farmers, Scientists, Ecologists Want Us to Rethink Our Fear of Wasps
Why Farmers, Scientists, Ecologists Want Us to Rethink Our Fear of Wasps
Wasps first appeared in the fossil record in the Jurassic, and diversified into many surviving superfamilies by the Cretaceous. They are a successful and diverse group of insects with tens of thousands of described species; wasps have spread to all parts of the world except for the polar regions.
In short: hornets are wasps, but not all wasps are hornets. Wasps are a diverse group of insects with over 100,000 species, many of which are solitary rather than social.
Wasps are small, flying insects that usually have an identifiable black body with yellow bands. Typically, wasps have a slender, smooth body with a narrow waist, a pair of membranous wings, and six spindly legs. Many species of wasps look like bees, and both wasps and bees are important pollinators that can cause a painful sting.
Wasps are one of nature’s most diverse and fascinating insects—ranging from social stingers like hornets and yellowjackets to solitary hunters like tarantula hawks and mud daubers. With over 100,000 known species worldwide, wasps come in all sizes, colors, and temperaments.
Wasps are social insects forming colonies inside nests specially constructed in soil, barks, roof spaces and in cavities in trees and walls. Wasps are frequently found in domestic housing.
Indeed, wasps do sting, and their stings hurt. To make matters worse, some wasps can be downright nuisances—they build nests under our eaves or in our lawns and swarm around our guests at backyard barbecues. If this has been your experience with wasps, you're probably wondering if we need these pests at all.