Why Are Wasps Beneficial?
WouterThousands of species of wasps live around the world. They are pollinators and scavengers. Some are stinging wasps, while others are parasitic wasps. They are important in the environment and provide pest control services.
Most wasps are small, with the largest being the fruit fly. They prey on a variety of insects, including caterpillars, spiders, flies and beetles. Some wasps also feed on animal carcasses.
They are important for pollination of flowers, especially for orchids and sugary drinks. Wasps have also been used for agricultural pest control in many countries. However, they are threatened by large-scale pesticide use and climate change. Efforts are being made to protect them.
Wasps may not be as effective pollinators as bees, but they have the potential to be more important in the future. They also provide important ecosystem services, such as nutrient cycling. They clean up rotting flesh and disperse seeds. They may even serve as environmental monitoring tools.
There are more than 33,000 species of wasps worldwide. Some are solitary, while others are social. Social wasps have nests, while solitary wasps tend to focus on one genus.
Most solitary wasps are stinging wasps, but there are some parasitic wasps that do not carry stings. These wereps lay eggs inside the host insects. Once the eggs hatch, they consume the prey. Some of these parasitic wasps are used for pest control on farms.
Social wasps also feed on insects. Often they will feed on pest insects, like beetles, and carry them back to their nest. They also build large paper nests. These nests are often under eaves or in protected areas.
