Hymenoptera
WASP
FACTS AND IDENTIFICATION
Scientific Name
Wasps are stinging insects. They are related to bees and ants. There are over 120,000 species of wasps that live all over the world. The National Pest Management Association reports that singing insects send more than half a million people to the emergency room every year. Most wasps will only sting to defend itself (or nest) or to subdue its prey. Wasps can sting repeatedly.
Identification – What do wasps look like?
Wasps come in every imaginable color, from yellow to black, orange, red, metallic blue, and green. They have a narrow waist (petiole) that separated the abdomen from the thorax, and a pointed lower abdomen. They have very little or no hair on their bodies. Their legs are shiny, slender, and shaped like cylinders. Wasps have biting mouth parts and antennae with 12 to 13 segments. They are normally winged. Wasps range in size from very small, .0059 inches to 2 inches.
Habitat and Habits of wasps
Wasps fall into two categories: social wasps and solitary wasps. Social wasps live in colonies with up to several thousand individuals. The colonies have three groups: egg laying queens (one or more per colony), workers (sexually undeveloped females), and drones (males). Social wasps account for only about a thousand species. Yellow jackets and hornets are social wasps. Social wasps create their nests from chewed up wood fibers they turn into a pulp. Solitary wasps live alone and most do not form colonies. All adult solitary wasps are fertile. The majority of solitary wasps make their nest in the ground. Most wasps live less than a year. Queens live for several years.
Diet – What do wasps eat?
Wasps eat a wide variety of insects including flies, bees, ants, spiders, and caterpillars. Wasps also eat honeydew, fruit, and nectar. The yellow jacket wasp will eat human food, especially meats and sweets.
Wasp control – How to get rid of wasps
It’s common to find wasps and wasp nests outdoors. Sometimes wasps enter your house and create a nest. Wasp nests are frequently found in the attics or other tucked away places.
While we always recommend calling a professional pest control provider, you can try Do-It-Yourself methods such as a wasp spray (first read the directions), a fly swatter, or a wasp trap for individual wasps. We strongly advises against attempting to remove wasp nests by Do-It-Yourself methods as this can be highly dangerous – you may get stung. At Rocky Mountain Bird and Pest we know how to find nests and use the right safety equipment and treatments. We begin with identifying the wasp and making a treatment recommendation. The method of treatment used will vary depending on the type of wasp, the environment, and local regulations.