Do Wasps Help Pollinate Plants?
WouterWhether you’re growing your own vegetables, or simply love the smell of flowers, you’ve probably wondered if wasps help pollinate plants. While many people think that wasps are ineffective pollinators, this isn’t necessarily the case. In fact, some wasps are better pollinators than honeybees, and they help to keep our crops safe from insect infestations.
In fact, some gardeners actively encourage certain types of wasps. The western yellowjacket, for example, is one of the most effective pollinators. It’s also one of the most common wasps.
Wasps are typically solitary insects, but there are some species that are social. These species live in colonies led by a queen. These colonies are made of weathered wood and are used by the queen to lay eggs. The workers capture insects and caterpillars. When the queen dies, the colony no longer has larvae, but the workers continue to perform their specialized tasks.
While many wasps are carnivorous, others feed on nectar. Some wasps also act as passive carriers of pollen, taking pollen from flower to flower while they feed. The pollen gets stuck to their hairs, so it’s easier for the pollinators to transfer it.
Many flowers attract wasps because they have an odorous scent, allowing them to easily access the nectar inside the flower. In fact, many orchids mimic the overall appearance of a female wasp.
Wasps are also useful pollinators of fruit trees. They feed on the nectar, and then pollinate the trees, which supports the trees’ crops and the birds and mammals that eat them.
