Wasps

Wasps cause fear in many people and have a reputation for being ruthless attackers. However, wasps are good insects to have in the garden since they eat pest insects, are pollinators, and they are beautiful. Usually, wasps are busy visiting flowers and provisioning their nests and will not bother humans as long as they don’t feel threatened.

Parasitic wasps are solitary and are less likely to act defensively. Larval wasps are carnivorous so wasps need gardens with an abundance and variety of insects to feed their young. Parent wasps often specialize on certain types of insect prey for their babies. They will either stock their brood chambers with piles of paralyzed prey or lay their eggs directly on the prey. If you crack open a mud dauber wasps nest you will find it filled with paralyzed spiders to feed the young wasps. Adult wasps may eat insects and or nectar.

Wasps are not as good at pollinating flowers as bees because they are not as hairy. Wasps have short tongues and often visit similar flowers to the types butterflies prefer. Flowers to attract wasps include the milkweeds, rattlesnake master, sunflowers, mountain mint, goldenrods, asters, and golden alexanders. I love to photograph wasps on flowers; their iridescent bodies just look stunning with the flower’s colorful petals.

Social wasps like paper wasps and yellow jackets are the more worrisome type of wasp in the garden as you may happen upon a nest accidentally in the yard. Social wasps are more likely to sting as they defend their nest. Just last month I had an unfortunate experience with yellow jackets due to a misunderstanding about territory. I thought I was walking around my garden and they thought I was attacking their nest. I will try to be more alert next time to avoid future misunderstandings. Luckily, I’m not allergic and was only stung twice before I got the message to get out of their territory.