Wasps play a specific role in their ecosystems that provides significant benefit to plants. They act as pollinators as well as provide effective pest control against garden and nuisance pests.
When wasps search for nectar, they come into contact with pollen which then pollinates other plants. Social wasps are more effective pollinators because workers spend their day searching for food, traveling back and forth among different plants.
Constantly searching for food keeps wasps busy, leading to a rapid metabolism. Their bodies shut down without enough food. Wasps need to consume significant amounts of high-energy food.
Found in the sugary nectar of flowers and fruits. Primary energy source for active wasps.
Hunt other insects for proteins larvae need to develop. Essential for colony growth.
Forced to search for alternatives like sugary drinks, fruit, and meat at picnics and parties.
Wasps were not always thought to be pollinators. They were originally thought to have smooth bodies not conducive to pollination. However, several common species do have hairy bodies that make them effective pollinators.
Wasps appear smooth but several species are covered in hairs so fine they are almost invisible. These hairs cover their entire bodies and are dense enough to capture pollen, similar to bees. However, wasps feed on nectar, not pollen, making them passive pollinators that are less efficient at passing pollen from plant to plant.
Even beneficial wasps can pose a threat. Get professional help.
Call (866) 326-2847Even though wasps may not be as effective at general pollination as bees, they provide a specific role for certain flowers that bees are not attracted to. These flowers require certain wasp species as specialized pollinators.
Over 100 species of orchids are exclusively dependent on specific wasp species for pollination.
Fig plants and wasps have evolved together for over 60 million years, completely dependent on each other.
Specialized Flower Traits: Abundant and accessible nectar in shallow spaces, strong scents, and dull colors often overlooked by other pollinators.
While wasps are pollinators, their biggest ecosystem role is as hunters of other insects. This benefits humans because they prey on nuisance and garden pests that damage crops.
Hunt green flies, caterpillars, and other harmful insects to feed their larvae.
Increasingly used by farmers to keep insect populations under control without chemicals.
Less chemical pesticide use is good for the overall pollinator population.
Even if wasps play a beneficial role, they still pose a threat to your home and family if not treated. If a wasp nest has been found on or around your home, schedule an inspection with EcoGuard Pest Management. We will create a customized plan to get rid of wasps and prevent future problems.
Wasps play a critical role in helping pollinate certain plant species and control pests harmful to plants and crops. They are passive pollinators and effective hunters that help keep green fly and caterpillar populations down.
Bees are better general pollinators because they spend all day moving from flower to flower consuming pollen. Their hairy bodies collect pollen which then spreads to other plants. Wasps are passive pollinators that feed on nectar, not pollen.
Wasps are beneficial insects that help pollinate and keep insect populations under control. They are passive pollinators that inadvertently transfer pollen when they feed on nectar, and they hunt caterpillars and other pests.
