Adam Hart explains why we should love wasps – not loathe them <\/p>
Wasps are perhaps the most misrepresented of all animals. The common wasp, Vespula vulgaris<\/i>, is a champion predator, homemaker and carer as well as being one of nature\u2019s most superb architects.<\/p>\n
The species has the most fascinating social life and, up close, is stunningly beautiful. Common wasps are also remarkable pest controllers \u2013 taking huge numbers of caterpillars from crops and gardens. Predators in general increase biodiversity, and wasps do a bit of pollinating along the way, too. We should treasure them, rather than loathe them!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> <\/section> Common wasps are usually up to 2cm in length<\/p>\n Adult wasps are omnivores \u2013 though they regularly visit flowers to feed on nectar<\/a><\/strong>, they are primarily insect predators, taking flies, bugs, aphids, caterpillars (or whatever they can get) and feeding the chewed remains to their grubs back in the nest (the larvae are wholly carnivorous).<\/p>\n Wasps are also highly successful scavengers, and in summer are attracted to fallen fruit, cream teas, barbecues, rubbish bins \u2013 and carrion. The insects have powerful jaws to despatch their prey, and these are also useful for tearing morsels of decaying flesh from any animal remains they might come across.<\/p>\n Back in the nest the wasp grubs accept animal protein from all sources. Wasps attracted to carrion will also attack the blow flies and maggots on the corpse, giving them a variable position in the complex ecological web of death, decay and recycling.<\/p>\n Richard Jones<\/em><\/p>\n Common wasps are attracted to picnics, because we have what they want \u2013 sugary foods and lovely little morsels of protein ready to be carried off to feed their sisters back at the nest. Even as a wasp-lover, I have to confess to sometimes being a little bothered by them at the end of the summer, if I am eating or drinking outside. But many is the time I have seen honeybees<\/a> <\/strong>bothering a beer garden and wasps getting the blame!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The common wasp nest is incredible. Hexagonal \u2018combs\u2019 house larvae, and an envelope protects and insulates. Colonies have a queen and hundreds, or even thousands, of female workers. The queen is the mother and the workers her daughters. While the queen lays the eggs, the workers look after the colony. Males and potential new queens are produced at some point and, after mating, the potential queens overwinter, ready to start a colony from scratch come spring.<\/p>\n\n
How big is the common wasp?<\/h2>\n
What do common wasps eat?<\/h2>\n
Why do wasps have such a bad reputation?<\/h2>\n
How do wasps build their nests?<\/h2>\n
What is the social structure of a common wasp colony?<\/h2>\n
Why do wasps sting?<\/h2>\n