Why Do We Need Wasps?

Whether you love them or hate them, there’s no denying that wasps have an important ecological role. They kill insect-borne plant pests and they are important pollinators. They also play a key role in the regulation of arthropod populations. Keeping these populations in check is important because arthropods reproduce rapidly. Their population growth can have detrimental effects on plants.

Wasps are known for their ability to paralyze their prey with a sting. However, their sting is not as effective as that of bees.

Wasps are attracted to sweet, sugary and protein-rich foods. They prey on caterpillars, flies, mosquitoes and aphids. In the UK, social wasps capture fourteen million kilograms of insect prey every summer.

Wasps are also known to be one of the few insect species that can kill a human. However, there are many people who are allergic to the sting of a wasp.

Scientists are looking into the venom of wasps to develop new antibiotics. The venom of the Polybia Paulista wasp, for example, contains an antibacterial peptide. Researchers at MIT are studying the peptide to find ways of combating disease.

However, wasps are still not loved by many. Some people even find wasps painful. If you’re allergic to wasp venom, it is best to avoid getting too close to them. You can also try avoiding food outside when they are active. It’s also best to keep your glasses covered, as wasps can crawl into them.

In the United Kingdom, wasps are more common in August. They’re also the most common insects to attack children.