Wasps are known as those flying insects present throughout the world and that we all remember for their dangerous sting. With their sting, the females inject a powerful poison that can intoxicate any human. There are different types of wasps, but most of them are not harmful. In this article you will learn more about this small insect.
Types of Wasps
Those insects that are part of the Vespidae family and that also belong to one of the largest insect orders, among which we get ants, bumblebees and bees, and others, are called wasps. They are eusocial animals, that is, they maintain a high level of social organization, although there are also certain species that are inclined to live alone.
They are hymenopteran insects, whose appearance is recognized by presenting black and yellow stripes on their abdomen and the modest waist that separates their body. Also, these medium-sized insects have a poisonous stinger, whose bite can cause dangerous reactions, which are dangerous for the life of human beings. However, these animals are not entirely harmful, since they perform relevant tasks in the ecosystem in which they are located, such as pest control.
What are Wasps?
Wasps are flying insects that are part of the Hymenoptera family (except ants and bees) and the Apocrita suborder. They are distinctive for their intense colors and for being found almost everywhere on the planet. Additionally, they are known for their sharp stingers that cause painful stings, although not all varieties can sting.
These insects play an important role in nature, because by becoming parasites of other animals, they operate as a magnificent biological pest control, which prevents the exaggerated growth of other insects and rules out their infestations in crops.
Features
There is a great variety of wasps spread all over the world, which have common physical, organizational, feeding and reproductive characteristics. The characteristics outlined below are present in most wasps, however, they can also be distinguished in such aspects:
- two pairs of wings
- An ovipositor or stinger
- Few or no abundant hairs (unlike bees)
- Virtually all wasps are terrestrial; only a few parasitic groups are specialized aquatic.
- They are predators or parasitoids, mostly of other terrestrial insects; they are adept at using spiders as prey, and some varieties of parasitic wasps employ spiders or other arachnids as hosts for reproduction
Physical appearance
The physical features change between each variety of wasps, the most common have yellow and black stripes that surround their abdomen. Even so, they also exist with intense brown, blue and red tones. On the other hand, these insects usually measure from 1 to 3 centimeters, although there are species that can measure more than 5 centimeters.
Other common features in almost all varieties of wasps are the two pairs of wings they have (a modest pair and the other larger), to which are added their six legs and two antennae that operate as sensory mechanisms, that enable them to recognize their prey and predators.
Sting
This tiny and sharp organ is one of the resources for the defense of wasps, particularly the females, since thanks to it they can sting their predators (humans or animals) and inoculate them with a powerful poison that causes discomfort and in the most severe cases. severe death.
It should be noted that this organ is only found in female wasps, since it originates in the ovipositor (sexual organ that makes it easier for them to lay eggs). However, not all wasps have a stinger, since those of the parasitoid type do not. This stinger can be used several times and not just once as is the case with bees.
Anatomy and Sex
There are huge variations in their anatomy between the different kinds of wasps. Like all insects, wasps have a strong exoskeleton that covers the three main parts of the body. Such pieces are known as the head, mesosoma, and metasoma. Wasps also have a strangulated region attached to the first and second segments of the abdomen (the first belongs to the mesosoma and the second to the metasoma) which is called the petiole.
Like all insects, wasps have three pairs of legs. In addition to their compound eyes, wasps also have some simple eyes, called ocelli. These are usually found in a triangular arrangement just in front of an area of the head, which is known as the vertex. It is possible to differentiate between the sexes of certain species of wasps based on the number of divisions in their antennae. For example, male yellow jackets have 13 divisions per antenna, while females have 12.
In certain cases, males can be distinguished from females because they have a visible segment added to the metasoma. The dissimilarity between sterile female worker wasps and queens also varies between species, but usually the queen is noticeably larger than the males and other females. Wasps can be distinguished from bees because they have a flattened posterior tarsomere. In contrast to bees, wasps generally do not have feathery hairs.
Food
In general, wasps are parasites or parasitoids in the larval stage, feeding on nectar only as adults. Many wasps are predators of other insects (often immobilized) used as food for their larvae. In parasitic varieties, the initial meals almost always come from the host in which the larvae are growing.
Usually, when these insects are in the larval stage, they are fed with other insects such as spiders, caterpillars and flies. Once they reach the adult phase, the wasps feed on the nectar of flowers, the sap of trees and other sources, usually sugary; however, certain adult social varieties may eat fruits and other insects.
There are several classes of social wasps that are omnivorous, eating a variety of fallen fruit, nectar, and carrion. Certain groups of these social wasps, such as yellow jackets, can supply dead insects to their young. In many social species, the larvae provide sweet excretions that are consumed by the adults.
Adult male wasps sometimes go to flowers to get their nectar to feed, in much the same way as honey bees. On occasions, certain species, such as yellow jacket wasps and particularly hornets, occupy bee nests and steal honey and/or offspring.
Reproduction and Longevity
The social species carry out their reproduction in a sexual way; for this purpose the queen wasps (fertile females) use the male wasps. After mating, they accumulate the sperm of the males (drones) inside them, to later fertilize their ovules from which female wasps will emerge; while from the unfertilized ovules, the male wasps will manifest. After the reproductive process is completed, the wasps move away throughout the summer season to look for safe places to nest and lay their eggs.
In contrast, solitary wasps rely on asexual reproduction, copying their genetic material without the involvement of a male wasp. However, just like the queen wasp, they go in search of a safe place to lay their eggs until they hatch.
The lifespan of these insects changes according to their gender, since males usually live for 2 months, while infertile females (workers) last from 2 to 4 weeks. It should be mentioned that the queen wasps have the greatest longevity, since they can live up to 1 year, thanks to the fact that they have the ability to hibernate, while the rest of the wasps perish as a result of low temperatures.
Natural predators
Although wasps are innate predators of many other insects and pests, they cannot evade the natural pecking order. Therefore, they are also victims of other animals, among which we find:
- Birds
- bullfrogs
- Yellow Garden Spider
- Bats
- Lizards
- Hedgehog
- Red-legged Cannibal Fly
variety of wasps
Motivated by the immense variety of wasps that exist, their classifications are usually multiple and for which different aspects or factors are considered. The most elementary classification shows us two classes of wasps, depending on the presence or absence of a stinger.
Wasps Aculeata
This class of wasps have a poisonous stinger with which they sting their victims when they defend themselves or feed on their blood. It is necessary to mention that this group gathers only 30% of the total existing wasps, therefore, in contrast to what is supposed, most of the wasps do not have a sting.
Similarly, these insects are separated according to their degree of sociability and the way they organize their lives, being able to lead it alone or socially. In the case of tapeworms, they reproduce asexually, so they can generate an identical copy of their genetic code.
On the other hand, the social wasps are organized in a hierarchical structure in which the queen is the fertile female, who has the ability to reproduce using the sperm of the males. In addition to this, the females that cannot reproduce are responsible for collecting food and are classified as workers.
Parasitoid Wasps
On the other hand, parasitoid or parasitic wasps are those that do not have a stinger. Therefore, they cannot sting; however, their purpose in nature lies in the control of pests, since by becoming parasites of other animals (in particular, insects) they make their excessive multiplication impossible.
This class of wasps usually stay in other animals, from which they manage to obtain their food; until such animals perish. It is important to highlight that there are parasitic wasps that lay their eggs inside other animals, so that they provide them with the nutrients they require.
Species
Globally, more than 100.000 different species of wasps are known, which differ in size, color, behavior, way of reproducing and feeding. In this way, as part of the social and solitary wasps, parasitoids and aculeata, the species that stand out the most are the following:
Common Wasp
The Vespula Vulgaris is the variety that is most found in Europe, Asia and Oceania, with a size of around 12 to 17 millimeters. It is distinguished from other similar species because it shows black and yellow stripes that surround its abdomen. In addition to this, they also show black dots on the stripes and a tiny spot on their head.
Great Black Wasp
It is a variety of solitary wasp, characterized by its considerable size that ranges from 2,5 to 4 centimeters. As its name indicates, this kind of wasp is black in color and does not show any spots or pigmentation on its body. It should be noted that black wasps live on the ground, in which they build nests for their young, which they feed on cicadas, grasshoppers, locusts and other animals.
red wasp
With a bright red color and about 2,5 centimeters in length, the red wasp is a social category and is distributed primarily in the United States. As social wasps, they congregate in colonies of about 800 members, which reside in nests made of wood and plant debris.
Killer Wasp
They receive this name by virtue of the sting of their sting which releases a powerful poison with which they paralyze their prey, among which are the cicadas. However, the females of this variety of wasps only use their sting when they feel threatened or their nest is in danger, so they are not a pressing danger to humans.
african wasp
This species is considered one of the deadliest insects in the world. It is a hybrid that was created in Africa (hence its name) from which a very dangerous variety has been obtained as a result and whose bite can end with the existence of thousands of people. At the same time, the African wasp is one of those that is always on the defensive, so they can attack anyone who approaches their nests.
Habitat
Wasps can survive whatever the climate or ecosystem (excluding low temperatures), so they can be found all over the planet, both in mountains and in deserts, savannahs, jungles, moors, forests, and others. Additionally, these insects are easily located in all the cities of the world, since they have managed to adapt to urban areas.
Regarding their way of organizing themselves, there are two kinds of wasps: social and solitary. The former congregate to make their nests with the cellulose of the trees, and which they place on the branches of the trees, roofs of houses or other areas distant from the ground. On their side, solitary wasps usually build nests of mud or wood, although they can also live in small holes in the ground. There are also solitary varieties that are likely to live in cracks in trees or other environments where they can lay their eggs.
In contrast to bees, wasps do not have wax-producing glands. On numerous occasions they create a paper-like substance, primarily from wood pulp. Wood fibers are gathered from nearby, decomposed wood, softened by chewing, and combined with saliva. The pulp is then used to make cell combs for the hatchlings. More often, nests are simply burrows dug in a substrate (usually soil, as well as plant stems), or, if made, from mud.
Pollination
Although most of the wasps do not play any role in pollination, a few varieties can efficiently transport pollen and therefore collaborate in the pollination of various plant varieties, being considered potential or even efficient pollinators. In certain cases, such as figs pollinated by fig wasps, where these wasps are their only pollinators, and therefore their role is crucial for the survival of their host plants.
Wasp Stings
As previously indicated, it is only the female wasps that produce stings, since they are the ones that have a stinger. This tiny but dangerous organ is what enables them to introduce the poison to their victims, when they defend themselves or protect their nests and colonies. Because of this, it is advised that people stay away from wasp nests and much less bother these insects.
Symptom
Regarding the symptoms of wasp stings, it should be clarified that they are diverse and can be more severe according to the kind of wasp that has perpetrated the sting. It is important to highlight that these symptoms are revealed only by the sting, not so much by the reaction to the venom of the wasps.
- Pain in the area where the sting occurred.
- The area in question reddens.
- Swelling and itching in the affected area.
- Sensation of intense heat.
Dangers and Allergies
Generally, wasp stings do not mean a danger in themselves, but allergy to their venom does. This situation of sensitivity is present in 15 to 25% of humans and 5 to 15% of them may experience unpleasant reactions and unfavorable dangers, among which are achieved:
- Swelling in areas of the body away from the bite
- Eruptions
- Dizziness and fainting
- Malaise, vomiting and diarrhea
- Fades
- Coughing and sneezing
- Breathing and swallowing complications
- Excessive perspiration
If allergy to wasp stings is known, treatments are based on the supply of antihistamines, cortisone drugs and bronchodilators, which, in addition to reducing symptoms, prevent complications from arising. On the other hand, in more serious cases, adrenaline can be administered to alleviate the anaphylactic shock that can be caused by hypersensitivity to the venom.
Diseases and Hazards
Wasps regularly live in trees from which they take everything, the risk of these insects is their stings, particularly when the person they sting is allergic to the liquid they release. On the other hand, termites are known to dwell inside wood, but in contrast to wasps' habitat, wasps can live inside trees, moist wood, not necessarily indoors.
There are some insects that can spread various diseases because of the bacteria they release wherever they step. An obvious example of such insects are flies, which we do not even need to touch to infect us with various diseases, and this is because on their legs they carry the bacteria that they step on, which usually have to do with excrement, deceased animals and rotten fruit.
Another household pest that usually transmits numerous diseases are the dreaded rats, which must be kept away from home. A very effective way to eliminate them is to place rat traps at home, being careful not to leave them within the reach of children or pets.
Home Remedies for Bites
In the presence of a wasp sting, what must be done first is to verify that the stinger is not located in the skin, if so it must be removed, for which it is not advisable to use tweezers, since this would allow the poison to spread more quickly. In any situation, the best way to do it is with your fingernails or some blunt object (cards or pieces of cardboard).
Every time the stinger is removed, the area should be cleaned with soap or some disinfectant product, with which infections can be prevented. It is also useful to apply medications that reduce pain, inflammation and redness. On their side, the most frequent home remedies for these are:
- Onion: Due to its antibacterial qualities, it is advisable to apply it to the affected area, in this way the profusion of bacteria that can complicate the condition is prevented.
- Lemon: The acid of this citrus fruit has the ability to lessen the effects of the poison, so it is advisable to apply a few drops to the bite site.
- Ice: This contributes to the reduction of inflammation and pain caused by wasp stings; To do this, put some ice cubes on a towel that will be placed on the affected area.
- Apple cider vinegar: Pain and inflammation can be reduced by applying a cotton ball moistened with apple cider vinegar. Additionally, this is a powerful antiseptic and bactericide.
Poison Applications
The properties of wasp venom have been studied for the purpose of designing and developing novel therapeutic drugs. With mastoparan, one of the primordial peptides that make up wasp venom, it has been shown that it has various applications in medicine.
Mastoparan alone or in a mixture with other antibiotics could be an option to combat a multiplicity of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics in clinical practices (the in vitro activity of mastoparan-AF alone and in combination with antibiotics used against various strains of Antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli isolated from animals)
It may also be of antiviral utility, since a recent in vitro study has shown that a mastoparan derivative shows broad-range antiviral activity against five families of enveloped viruses by altering the structure of its lipid coating.
Mastoparan enters the mitochondrial membrane and causes an increase in the permeability of the mitochondria to regulate the cytotoxicity of tumor cells. Various studies have confirmed the antitumor activity of mastoparan and its similar in vitro, so it could also be used in the fight against cancer.
How to avoid Wasp Infestation?
The best way to exterminate wasps from the home or prevent their infestation is to reduce the spaces with any conditions that may favor their development. It is because of this that cracks in walls or wooden things must be eliminated, as well as holes in the ground in which wasps could nest.
On the other hand, the use of insecticides can also be helpful in eliminating these animals, particularly in external environments such as swimming pools, patios and gardens. In the same way, it is suggested to apply some repellent cream or gel to prevent the bite of these insects.
Differences between Wasps and Bees
Wasps and bees are often equated and sometimes confused, due to the apparent similarity between these flying varieties. However, despite the fact that they have physical and behavioral similarities, there are features that significantly distinguish them, such as the following:
- Color: Bees have a golden or brown coloration, in contrast to wasps, since they show bright and dark pigmentations, from yellow, through reds and blues, to black.
- Food: Primarily bees are herbivores and feed on the nectar of plants, while wasps are carnivorous or omnivorous, since they can feed on other insects, fruits and nectar.
- Physical appearance: Wasps have a noticeable narrowing that separates their thorax, which is known as the waist; meanwhile, bees do not have this and have hairs that cover their entire body.
- function in nature: The primary role of bees in nature is to pollinate plant varieties; while wasps are responsible for suppressing other insects, thus serving as pest controllers.
Differences between Wasps and Bees?
Wasps are disliked by many people, while bees are liked by most of the public, according to a recent study. And that poor outlook on wasps "isn't fair" since the two insects are equally beneficial to the natural environment.
One study, which is based on a survey of 750 people from 46 nations, was carried out by scientists in the UK and Italy and published in the journal Ecological Entomology. The creators of the work indicated that the wasps are in need of a publicity campaign to rescue their image, and affirm that these insects deserve not only to be as appreciated as the bees, but also to be recipients of the same conservation efforts.
Annoying
In the survey, respondents were asked to rate different insects in a range of values from minus five (quite negative feelings) to five (quite positive feelings). Most of the answers in the analysis of the bees were placed above 3, but the opposite occurred with the wasps, which mostly obtained scores of less than 3 or less.
The researchers also asked the respondents to meditate on linked words. Regarding bees, the most repeated terms were «honey», «flowers» and «pollination». But the words most related to wasps were "dangerous", "stinging" and "annoying".
bad press
The popular view of wasps is unfounded, says Seirian Sumner, a scientist at University College London who led the study. Wasps also pollinate flowers and play a key role in the natural environment by killing and eating other insects that are considered pests. The downside is that wasps have been wrongly portrayed in news articles, said Sumner, who specializes in the social life of insects.
"People are unaware of the admirable ecological roles that wasps play," Sumner said. "Although many people think that wasps just want to cause you annoyance by chasing your sandwich during a picnic, in reality those wasps are much more interested in catching insects that they can carry back to their nest to feed their larvae," pointed.
Few Studies
Sumner also acknowledged that scientific research on the benign impact of wasps on the environment is scant. The scholar herself followed up on conference presentations and scientific inquiries about bees and wasps. Of 908 studies evaluated, only 2,4% of the publications since 1980 referred to wasps, while 97,6% dealt with bees. And of 2.543 presentations about these two insects at scientific conferences in the last 3 decades, 81,3% revolved around bees.
This little research has important effects, since it complicates the design of conservation strategies. And this is transcendental since, as Alessando Cini, a scientist at the University of Florence and co-author of the study, points out, wasp populations are declining due to habitat loss and climate change.
A World without Wasps…
“The general concern about the drop in the number of pollinators has generated an immense interest in bees. It would be wonderful if that support also existed for the wasps, but for this to happen, a change in attitudes would have to take place, ”said Cini. "The initial step is for the scientists themselves to estimate and investigate further the economic and environmental relevance of wasps, so that they can subsequently help the public understand the importance of these insects," added the researcher.
Says Sumner, "the more the role of wasps as predators of harmful insects is understood, the less they will be hated." The University College researcher noted that "people with a strong interest in nature consider wasps more than those with little interest." “We ask that the press help us to change the perceptions about these insects from unpleasant postures to affirmative and tolerant feelings”, she stated. “If there were a world without wasps, it would be a place where many more pesticides and pesticides should be used,” she reviewed.
The US faces the Invasion of the World's Largest Wasps
The United States continues to be immersed in the Covid-19 pandemic and, as if that were not enough, now it has to face a new challenge that, out of curiosity, also comes from Asia: the Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia). It is the largest wasp on the planet. It is native to Japan, they can reach 5 centimeters in length and have a wingspan of about 7,5 centimeters. They show an orange and brown coloration, are violent and have a powerful poison.
American beekeepers and researchers are concerned about their nation's bee hives, as these giant wasps can wipe out a hive of bees in just a few hours with their powerful jaws. According to what was indicated in The New York Times, the person who raised the alarm about his presence in the United States was at home when he realized that his bees had been decapitated.
The event took place in the state of Washington, where the beekeeper came to discover that the culprit was the so-called 'Asian giant hornet', who is nicknamed 'killer wasp'. These insects kill bees by decapitating them and carrying off their bodies to feed their young. But, the consternation is double since this wasp kills about 50 people annually in Japan, since it has a very powerful poison.
According to the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA), the first verified sighting of murder hornets in North America was in Blaine, Washington state in late 2019. Scientists at Washington State University say stings from these wasps could be deadly to some humans, even if they are not allergic to bees. They also explain that the bites are extremely painful since they inoculate a very powerful neurotoxin.
Maximum Effort for its Eradication in the Country
The risk posed by this insect to bees and humans has led researchers in the United States to embark on a massive search for the hornets to prevent them from settling in the country. "This is our window to stop them from setting in and if we can't get it done in the next couple of years, it probably can't be done," said Chris Looney, an entomologist with the Washington State Department of Agriculture.
For this, several traps have been placed in the trees of the area where this species has been spotted and thus try to exterminate these ruthless insects. “It is a health risk and, more importantly, a substantial predator of honey bees. People have to be taught how to observe and identify this hornet while populations are modest so that we can annihilate it as soon as we have the opportunity, ”says Todd Murray, an entomologist at Washington State University.
Also in Canada
These hornets have also been located in the province of British Columbia in Canada, about 16 kilometers from where they were seen in the state of Washington. Conrad Berubé, beekeeper and entomologist, was chosen to exterminate the insect from the Canadian territory. But, despite the fact that he was dressed in a beekeeper's suit and Kevlar splints on his ankles and wrists, he was attacked by a hive of these wasps, and he received up to seven stings. "It was like having red-hot thumbtacks stuck in my body," he said.
Bérubé reached his goal and destroyed the hive, but the next day he had severe pain in his legs as if he had caught the flu. Berubé assured that they were the most painful bites that he had suffered in his entire working life. "Group attacks by these wasps can expose their victims to poisonous doses comparable to that of a snake, so some bites can even lead to death," said Jun-ichi Takahashi, a scientist at Kyoto University, in Japan.
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