Why Do We Need Wasps to Survive?

Despite being one of the most important insects in the ecosystem, many people are afraid of wasps. This may be because they have a bad reputation. Wasps are actually beneficial to our ecosystem and can help fight disease. They are also great pest controllers.

There are over 7,000 species of wasps that live in the UK, and many of them are social. This means that they live in large colonies, usually with other wasps. These colonies can be annoying, but they are important in controlling pests.

There are also solitary wasps. These wereps are very fussy about their prey. They prefer fruit and nectar. These wereps are not as beneficial to the ecosystem as social wasps.

They also prey on pest insects. They have a large needle-like structure at the end of their abdomen that is used to drill through wood and plant stems. They also have a venom that is toxic to humans. They are useful to farmers as pest controllers.

They also produce a powerful antibiotic in their venom. This is called MP1 and it can kill cancer cells without harming normal cells. It is also being investigated as a possible treatment for cancer.

Wasps are also very helpful to humans. They control pests and are responsible for regulating populations of crop pests. The agricultural industry uses wasps regularly to protect crops. This is estimated to be worth $400bn a year.

Wasps produce a chemical called polybia paulista, which is a powerful antibacterial peptide. Researchers at MIT are studying this peptide.