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Wasps,
Hornets & Yellow Jackets
There are about 20,000 wasp species in the world. They range in size from 3
mm to 8 cm. Most are solitary and predators but some (the most noticeable
ones) are pests and live in colonies.
 Wasps in this family are
social Insects that take care of their young. Most wasps are solitary but
others, like Yellow jackets and Hornets live in large colonies, consisting of
one queen and many workers. Some of these wasps are dark brown but most are
striped yellow and black Bee-like insects. They nest in grey or tan, oval or
irregular-shaped, papery nests in trees and under house eaves or even in the
ground. Some move into the house. Most are beneficial as they kill many pest
insects around the yard, but Yellow jackets and Hornets may become pests when
colonies grow in size and workers invade people's habitat looking for food.
When agitated they can render a painful sting. Some people are allergic to
these stings and need medical attention immediately (see Comments below).
Wasps can sting more than once, which is not the case with Bees, as their
stingers are hooked and remain stuck in the victim. Hornets are like
Yellow jackets but larger and could also be dark brown to black in color.
They produce tan-colored nests. Some Wasps make umbrella-shaped nests and
are known as Umbrella Wasps.
White grubs are found
inside cells in the nests. These are fed daily on juices of insects and
sweets. They last from 9 days to 22 days. A colony could produce as many as
10,000 grubs.
Pupae are cocooned in a
silky canopy produced by rolling in their own saliva. This stage lasts about
a week. Afterwards they emerge either as sterile female workers or in August
as "sexual" males and females.
 Adults are bee-like
insects with yellow or black striped abdomens. The workers build cells, look
for food, nurse the larvae and protect the colony. The "sexual" males mate
with the "sexual" females. These females store the sperm to fertilize next
years eggs. These are the queens that over-winter in protected holes and
crevices. The workers and males die off before winter. Empty nests will not
be revisited the following year.
Wasp
venom contains histamine and a substance that dissolves red blood cells.
Some people get hives, have trouble breathing, experience a rapid drop in
blood pressure etc. Shots of adrenaline or epinephrine may stop the allergic
reaction. Call a doctor immediately.
Some small wasp varieties are parasites and lay eggs on or in caterpillars,
aphids etc.. When these eggs hatch the wasp larvae will feed on it's host
eventually killing it. Some of these beneficial wasp species are: Braconid
Wasps (use Caterpillars and Cabbageworms), Chalcid Wasps (use Aphids, Scale, Mealybugs, Beetle larvae etc.), Ichneumon Wasps (use Caterpillars) and
Trichogramma Wasps (use Cabbage Loopers, Cutworms etc.).
Mud Daubers (Family: Sphecidae) make nests from mud in which they deposit
eggs and also a paralyzed insect for the larvae to feed on when they hatch.
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