Why Wasps Should Be Extinct
Despite being one of the least favorite insects, wasps are vital to our planet. They play an essential role in the home garden, controlling pest insects and contributing to pollination. Without wasps, the world would be a bleak place. They also contribute to the ecosystem by regulating the numbers of other arthropods.
Wasps are part of the insect Order Aculeata. They are similar to bees, but differ in many ways. They are predators, pollinators and parasitoids. They are responsible for regulating the number of carnivorous arthropods in the environment.
There are more than 100,000 species of wasps in the world. They are divided into two main groups, the social and the hunting. Social wasps are generalist predators that control populations of a variety of species. They capture insect larvae, caterpillars and greenfly. They feed on a wide range of insects, including agricultural pests.
Hunting wasps are also generalist predators. They catch insects to feed to their larvae. They are also responsible for controlling fall army worms and borer moths.
Social wasps also transfer pollen when they visit flowers and nectar. They are important pollinators in tropical regions, where many animals rely on them. They also have a significant effect on agriculture by controlling crop-devouring pests.
In a recent study, scientists found that 186 new wasp species were discovered in the Costa Rican rainforest. These wasps have the potential to play an important role in controlling the escalating impacts of extreme weather.