Are Wasps Good For the Garden?
WouterDespite their reputation for being bad, wasps are actually quite good for the garden. They are predators, which means they will eat pests and insects that would otherwise damage your plants. They also provide some ecological services, such as capturing dead insects, collecting aphid honeydew, and pollinating many plants.
There are thousands of different species of wasps. Some are predatory, while others are solitary. These species include parasitoid wasps, which lay eggs in insect hosts, and social wasps, which live in colonies. Social wasps control spiders and greenflies, as well as capture caterpillars and other insect prey.
Social wasps are often yellow. They are aggressive and may sting humans and animals. They are also attracted to fruit, which can lead to damage when fruit ripens. These social wasps are called yellowjackets in some parts of the world.
Some beneficial wasps include paper wasps, which kill insects to provide protein for their larvae. They also feed on caterpillars and beetle larvae. They are very efficient predators. They can travel up to 1,000 yards to gather insects. They prefer to eat caterpillars and spiders, but will take other insects as well.
Thread-waisted wasps, on the other hand, are agile enough to inject venom into their prey. They are attracted to many different types of plant hosts. Some of their favorite plants include bachelor’s buttons, meadowsweet, and winterberry holly.
The great black wasp is a katydid hunter, which means it will forage on a variety of garden plants. It also belongs to a group of solitary hunting wasps. This species lays either male or female eggs. The queen overwinters in the ground.
