Types Of Wasps
Identifying Different Types of Wasps
There are hundreds of different types of wasps, but only specific species are pesky to people. Most of the more than 75,000 species of wasp are solitary wasps that have little or nothing to do with humans. Social wasps, on the other hand, are the most common and also the ones most likely to show you their stinger.
Wasps are predatory insects that are very vital in nature, both as a predator and as prey. Just as with all other insects, wasps maintain an important place in ecosystems around the world. Additionally, many types of wasps are used as a natural form of pest control because they are quite good at keeping pesky critters away from special crops. While wasps may appear to be similar in behavior to bees and even ants, the wasp is a distinct creature.
In general, there are two main types of wasps: solitary wasps and social wasps. Solitary wasps do not build nests in trees, in your garden or on the side of the house. They act on their own and don’t build hives or nests in trees, but rather dig burrows in the ground where their young will hatch. Social wasps, on the other hand, live in large colonies which can have several thousand members.
Wasp colonies build nests, which is why they are the ones that sting. The most common wasps found in residential areas are hornets, paper wasps and yellow jackets, and they don’t sting just to be mean. Since these colonies of wasps create nests in which to house their young, they are fiercely protective of the nest. When they feel their nest is being threatened, they will attack ferociously.
Hornets are the most dangerous social wasp. They are very aggressive and will defend a disturbed nest at all costs. Hornet colonies have very large, grayish colored nests that are attached to trees or shrubs. They may contain thousands of hornets, so it is best to keep your distance. Never attempt to destroy a hornet’s nest without professional help, as a swarm of hornets is able to give multiple stings that could be dangerous and even deadly.
Yellow jackets are also pretty aggressive, but they are not as dangerous as the hornet. Even less intimidating are paper wasps. Both of these species of wasps can be dealt with at home without professional help, but if a particularly large nest is found a specialist may be the way to go. Even though they are less aggressive, their sting is still potent and can be deadly if attacked by a swarm.
One wasp species that is common in the southern United States is the mud dauber. This type of wasp builds small mud nests around the eaves of the house, but it is not dangerous as they do not sting. Their nests can be annoying, though, and can easily be removed with store-bought spray or a pressure hose.