How Many Types of Wasps are There?

How Many Types of Wasps are There?

Wasps are an unwelcome sight in your yard. Unlike honey bees, they don’t pollinate your trees and flowers like bees do and and they don’t make honey. They are more of an aggressive nuisance, ready to at attack if you get too close. Your mere presence is a threat to them and they will do whatever is necessary to defend their hive. You might see flying insects around your yard that resemble wasps and question if they are as dangerous. All wasps sting, but not all wasps are as aggressive. Some are rather even tempered, but all wasps are pests and that is the similarity. There are several types of wasps and over 100,000 different species of wasps on earth today. Here are a few types of wasps you may find in your garden:

1-Predatory wasps

Predatory wasps may be social or solitary. This means, they may have a large hive with many other wasps working together, or if they are solitary, one wasp builds a hive alone and lives alone. Social wasps are aggressive and work together to defend the hive while solitary wasps are non-aggressive and do not sting in defense, only to catch their prey. There are more than 17,000 species of predatory wasps that hunt other insects for food or eat pollen and nectar. These include hornets and yellowjackets, which are easily recognized.

2-True parasitic wasps

This type of wasp is a large group with more than 76,000 species. They are known for their long oppositor, which they use to insert their eggs into a host. Usually these hosts are insects like grubs and caterpillars. They don’t sting and are viewed as beneficial pest controllers, thus farmers especially appreciate them.

3-Stinging parasitic wasps

This category has a smaller number, only 13,600 species. This wasps might sound rather morbid, but like the true parasitic wasp, it lays its eggs in the host, but then it will take that host to its nest. The wasps will wait for the eggs to hatch and once they do, all the larvae will feed on the carcass they hatched from. It sounds pretty gruesome doesn’t it? Not for a stinging parasitic wasp, it’s a way of life.

4-Symphyta wasps

These wasps are grouped together in this suborder and they include sawflies, horntails and wood wasps. They make up about 8,200 species and are plant feeders as larvae. Sawflies get their name from the “sawlike” ovipositor that cuts into plant tissues to deposit their eggs. Likewise, a horntails and wood wasps will also bore holes in trees to lay its eggs.

Professional wasp control for all types of wasps

Green Pest Services is experienced and educated in all types of wasps. Removing a wasp infestation from your yard is vital to your sanity and safety. Wasps are rather nuisance-like insects and can also be dangerous if they feel threatened. Keeping your family safe is our number one concern. Call us today if you need wasp control in Glenview or the surrounding areas, we are happy to help.

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