Do Wasps Help Flowers?
WouterWhether you are a beginner or a seasoned gardening professional, you may ask, “Do wasps help flowers?” Many people do not realize that wasps are one of the primary pollinators of the world. They are also important for ecological balance. They help control insects that attack crops and other plants.
Wasps are a group of insects belonging to the order Hymenoptera. They are similar to bees in appearance. Their thorax is covered with black hairs. The hairs are fine and dense. It is believed that the hairs are used for pollination.
The female wasps use their mouthparts to collect nectar. They also build a nest. The nests are made out of weathered wood or other materials. The nest is then sealed with a mud plug. The nest is used for the queen to lay eggs.
Pollen wasps are a special group of wasps. They have long mouthparts and a unique behavior. They feed off nectar and pollen. These pollen wasps can gather nectar from shallow flowers and deep flowers. They also store pollen temporarily.
These wasps are classified as parasitic. Most of them lay eggs on other animals, but some are predatory. Some of them sting humans. They are also known to eat insects and fruit.
Other wasp species are predators and control garden pests. There are over 7,000 species of wasps in the UK. Some people actively encourage certain species to live in their gardens.
A few species of wasps make honey. There are also social wasps. These wereps capture caterpillars and other insects to feed their young. The social wasps also control spiders. The colonies can be a nuisance and sting people when they get too close.
