Though widely considered a menace, most wasps help to control pests in gardens and yards
Mid summer is peak activity time for so many insects – buzzing by, singing in the trees, eating our plants or trying to take a bite out of us. As much as we may admire or despise insects, they are part of our world and daily environment. If you spend any time outdoors – working the farm, sitting on the porch, or even taking a hike – you will find insects. Or they might find you. One large unique group of insects associated with summertime is the wasps.
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmq24< :? >J 49:=59@@5 52JD[ x D2H H2DAD @? A@C496D 2?5 2C@F?5 32C?D 2?5 @E96C @FE5@@C DECF4EFC6D] {@@<:?8 FA 2?5 D66:?8 2 =2C86 A2A6C H2DA 6J6\E@\6J6 H2D :?5665 2 7C:89E] w62C:?8 2?5 H2E49:?8 E96 5:CE 52F36CD 3F:=5 E96:C >F5 ?6DED H2D :?EC:8F:?8 2?5 6?E6CE2:?:?8] v6EE:?8 DFCAC:D65 2?5 A@AA65 3J J6==@H ;24<6ED H9:=6 >@H:?8 2 7:6=5 @C =2H? H2D ?@E DF>>6CE:>6 7F?] kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm|@DE A6@A=6 H:== BF:4<=J 4@?D:56C H2DAD 2 >6?246 2?5 ?F:D2?46] #:89E7F==J D@[ 2D >@DE H2DA DA64:6D >2J 8C66E FD H:E9 2 DE:?8 27E6C 86EE:?8 E@@ 4=@D6] qFE >@DE H2DAD 2=D@ 2C6 G2=F23=6 :? E96 3:@=@8:42= 4@?EC@= @7 G2C:@FD A6DED :? 82C56?D 2?5 J2C5D] z?@H:?8 >@C6 23@FE E96 5:776C6?E <:?5D @7 H2DAD 4@F=5 96=A FD F?56CDE2?5 E96> 36EE6C 2?5 56E6C>:?6 H9:49 2C6 92C>=6DD 2?5 H9:49 2C6 A6DED]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmpE E96 E@A @7 E96 =:DE @7 H6==\<?@H? H2DAD 2C6 E96 A2A6C H2DAD] %96J >2<6 E96 @A6?\46==65 F>3C6==2\=:<6 A2A6C ?6DED 4@>>@?=J D66? 92?8:?8 :? 6IE6C:@C 62G6D 2?5 4@C?6CD @7 3F:=5:?8D] !2CE @7 E96 86?FD k6>m!@:=DE6D[k^6>m E96C6 2C6E9C66 4@>>@? A2A6C H2DAD :? p=232>2i E96 |6EC:4 !2A6C (2DAj u:?6\324<65 #65 !2A6C (2DAj 2?5 E96 vF:?62 !2A6C (2DA]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%96D6 H2DAD 3F:=5 @? 2?J DFC7246 E92E :D AC@E64E65 7C@> E96 6=6>6?ED[ 6DA64:2==J :? E96 4@C?6CD @7 H:?5@HD 2?5 5@@CD[ F?56C 62G6D[ A@C496D[ 564<D 2?5 C2:=:?8D[ 2=@?8 C27E6CD 2?5 :? 2=>@DE 2== @FE5@@C 3F:=5:?8D] %96J 92G6 366? <?@H? E@ 3F:=5 2?5 @44FAJ F?FDF2= A=246D[ DF49 2D :? >2:=3@I6D[ F?56C DE@C65 3@2ED 2?5 H:E9:? 3FD96D]kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%9@F89 ?@E 288C6DD:G6[ A2A6C H2DAD H:== DE:?8 :7 E96J 766= E9C62E6?65 @C AC@G@<65] xE 42? 36 2 7C:89E6?:?8 2?5 52?86C@FD E9:?8 E@ 36 ?62C @C 86E 4=@D6 E@ 2 =2C86 H2DA ?6DE] $@>6 =2C86 ?6DED 4@F=5 4@?E2:? `_ E@ `d H2DAD]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmp=E9@F89 A2A6C H2DAD 2C6 36?67:4:2= :?D64ED[ :E :D 92C5 E@ ;FDE:7J E96:C 3F:=5:?8 ?6DED H96C6 A6@A=6 4@F=5 4@>6 :? 5:C64E 4@?E24E H:E9 E96>] *@F?8 49:=5C6? 2C6 6DA64:2==J GF=?6C23=6[ 2D E96J @7E6? 5@?’E <?@H 23@FE H2DAD @C ?@E:46 E96>] xE :D 2 8@@5 :562 E@ =@@< 2C@F?5 J@FC 9@>6 2?5 6C25:42E6 A@E6?E:2= 52?86C@FD H2DA ?6DED]kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%96 “5:CE 52F36C” :D 2 G6CJ :?E6C6DE:?8 H2DA 2?5 2 E2=6?E65 :?D64E] %96D6 =:EE=6 H2DAD 42CCJ >F5 E@ >2<6 E9@D6 =@?8 EF3F=2C >F5 42G:E:6D @C >F5 9FED 2=@?8 H2==D @? 3F:=5:?8D] z?@H? @77:4:2==J 2D >F5 52F36CD[ 5:CE 52F36CD 2C6 G6CJ >F49 H@C<29@=:4 :?D64ED] %96 ~C82?\A:A6 |F5 s2F36C[ E96 q=24< 2?5 *6==@H |F5 s2F36C 2?5 E96 q=F6 |6E2==:4 |F5 s2F36C 2C6 E96 E9C66 4@>>@? DA64:6D 7@F?5 :? p=232>2]kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmp =@E @7 E96:C 52J :D DA6?E 82E96C:?8 E:?J 32==D @7 >@:DE >F5 E@ >2<6 =@?8 EF??6=\=:<6 46==D 2?5 ?6DED 2=@?8 H2==D] %96 ~C82?\A:A6 |F5 s2F36C[ >@DE ?@E23=6 @7 E96 E9C66[ 86ED :ED ?2>6 3642FD6 :ED 255:E:@?2= 46==D @7 >F5D 2C6 FDF2==J 3F:=E A2C2==6= E@ E96 7:CDE] ~?46 2 “A:A6” :D 4@>A=6E65[ E96 H2DA H:== 56A@D:E 2? 688[ 2=@?8 H:E9 2 42AEFC65 2?5 A2C2=JK65 DA:56C[ H:E9:? 6249 46== :?D:56 E96 >F5 42G:EJ] q6=:6G6 :E @C ?@E[ E96 DE@C65 DA:56C H:== D6CG6 2D 2 7@@5 D@FC46 7@C H96? E96 J@F?8 H2DA 92E496D] kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmp=E9@F89 92C>=6DD 2?5 36?67:4:2= :?D64ED[ >F5 52F36CD 42? D@>6E:>6D 36 ?F:D2?46D[ 6DA64:2==J H96? E96J 3F:=5 E9@D6 >F5 9FED 2C@F?5 E96 9@>6 @? A@C496D[ 42CA@CED[ 82C286D 2?5 @FED:56 3F:=5:?8D] %96:C >F5 42G:E:6D 2C6 2? 6J6D@C6[ D@>6E:>6D =@?8 =:G65 2?5 >6DDJ E@ C6>@G6]kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?m $66 E96 pF8FDE a_a_ 65:E:@? @7 k6>m{2<6k^6>m >282K:?6 7@C >@C6 @? k6>ms@4:=6 s:CE s2F36CDk^6>m]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQms6DA:E6 :ED ?2>6 2?5 C6AFE2E:@?[ E96 J6==@H ;24<6E :D 2 EJA6 @7 H2DA] %96D6 :?D64ED >2<6 A2A6C ?6DED :? E96 8C@F?5 :? 2C62D E92E 4@F=5 :?4=F56 @=5 C@56?E 3FCC@HD[ E96 F?56CD:56D @7 =2?5D42A6 E:>36CD 2?5 962GJ >F=49 @C :? C@4< H2==D] %96J 2=D@ 92G6 366? 7@F?5 :? E96 H2== G@:5D @7 9@>6D] %96 AC:>2CJ 5:6E @7 J6==@H ;24<6ED 4@?D:DED @7 5625 :?D64ED 2?5 62CE9H@C>D 2?5 @E96C 42CC:@?j 9@H6G6C[ E96J 2=D@ 7@C286 @? DH66E >2E6C:2=D =2E6C :? E96 D62D@? 2?5 42? 36 288C6DD:G6] kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm*6==@H ;24<6ED 2C6 2 D6C:@FD A6DE 2?5 4@F=5 A@D6 2 962=E9 E9C62E E@ 9F>2?D 3642FD6 @7 E96:C A2:?7F= DE:?8] x7 J@F 92G6 2 ?6DE @7 J6==@H ;24<6ED :? J@FC J2C5[ 7:CDE 56E6C>:?6 :7 E96J 2C6 2 AC@3=6> @C ?@E]kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?m %96 36DE DEC2E68J 282:?DE J6==@H ;24<6ED :D E@ =62G6 E96> 2=@?6]kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?m ~?6 @C EH@ 7=J:?8 2C@F?5 H:== ?@E 2EE24< F?=6DD AC@G@<65 – DF49 2D H:E9 DH2EE:?8 WD66 E96 $6AE6>36C a_a_ 65:E:@? @7 k6>m{2<6 |2CE:? {:G:?8k^6>m 7@C 2 762EFC6 6?E:E=65 k6>m{:EE=6 s6G:=Dk^6>m 23@FE J6==@H ;24<6EDX]kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%96 =2C86DE :?E:>:52E:?8 H2DA E92E :D 24E:G6 :? E96 DF>>6C :D E96 t2DE6C? r:4252 z:==6C (2DA] %9:D =2C86 3=24< H2DA H:E9 4@=@C7F= J6==@H >2C<:?8D @? D6G6C2= D68>6?ED @7 :ED 235@>6?[ :D 2AAC@I:>2E6=J a :?496D =@?8j 9@H6G6C[ 56DA:E6 E96 D:K6[ E96J 2C6 >:=5 >2??6C65 2?5 ?@E 288C6DD:G6 E@ 9F>2?D] x? 724E[ :E :D D@CE @7 C2C6 E@ D66 E96> C6DE:?8 @C 6G6? E@ 86E 2 A9@E@] %96:C D:K6 2?5 3FKK:?8 D@>6E:>6D DA@@<D 7@=<D]kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmr:4252 z:==6CD 2C6 >@DE ?@E:465 H96? 76>2=6D 368:? 5:88:?8 F?56C8C@F?5 3FCC@HD 2=@?8 D:56H2=<D @C A2E:@ 6586D[ :? 7=@H6C 365D[ 82C56?D @C =2H?D] %96J 2C6 D@=:E2CJ H2DAD[ >62?:?8 F?=:<6 A2A6C H2DAD @C J6==@H ;24<6ED[ E96J H@C< 2=@?6j E96C6 :D @?=J @?6 25F=E A6C 9@=6] |2=6D[ H9:49 42??@E DE:?8[ >2J D6E FA E6CC:E@C:6D :? 2C62D H96C6 76>2=6D 2C6 H@C<:?8 2?5 >2J :?G6DE:82E6 A6@A=6 2?5 6BF:A>6?E E92E 4@>6 3J] kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%96 =2DE 8C@FA @7 4@>>@? H2DA H6 @442D:@?2==J D66 :D 9@C?6ED] %96 q2=5\72465 w@C?6E 2?5 E96 tFC@A62? w@C?6E 2C6 EH@ DA64:6D :? A2CE:4F=2C 7@F?5 :? p=232>2] q2=5\72465 9@C?6ED 2C6 3=24< 2?5 H9:E6 2?5 >62DFC6 23@FE b^c\:?49 :? =6?8E9[ 2 =:EE=6 3:E =2C86C E92? J6==@H ;24<6ED] %96J 3F:=5 6?4=@D65 8C2J A2A6C ?6DED – FA E@ 23@FE `a :?496D :? 5:2>6E6C – E92E FDF2==J 92?8 @? EC66 =:>3D]kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%96 tFC@A62? w@C?6E :D >F49 3:886C 2E 2=>@DE `\`^a :?496D =@?8] xE :D 3C@H?:D9 J6==@H :? 4@=@C 2?5 92D @C2?86 DEC:A6D @? :ED 235@>6?] %96 tFC@A62? w@C?6E 7665D 2=>@DE 6I4=FD:G6=J @? =:G6 :?D64ED 2?5 :D 2? 6I46==6?E AC652E@Cj H96C62D[ E96 q2=5\u2465 w@C?6E :D @7E6? D66? 7@C28:?8 2?5 7=J:?8 2C@F?5 A@C496D 5FC:?8 E96 52J[ E96 tFC@A62? w@C?6E :D @? @442D:@? DA@EE65 2E ?:89E 2D :E :D 2EEC24E65 E@ @FE5@@C 2?5 A@C49 =:89ED]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmw@C?6ED 2C6 4@?D:56C65 36?67:4:2= :?D64ED 3FE @442D:@?2==J 3F:=5 E96:C ?6DED :? E96 G:4:?:EJ @7 A6@A=6[ DF49 2D @? 9@FD6D[ :? ?62C3J EC66D 2?5 D9CF3D 2?5 2=@?8 @FE5@@C 3F:=5:?8D] |@DE @7 E96 E:>6[ 9@C?6ED 2?5 E96:C ?6DED 8@ F??@E:465 F?E:= 2 A6CD@? DFCAC:D:?8=J 7:?5D @?6 @C 86ED H2C?65 7@C 86EE:?8 E@@ 4=@D6] }@C>2==J[ 9@C?6ED 2C6 ?@E 288C6DD:G6[ 3FE E96J 2C6 G6CJ AC@E64E:G6 2?5 H:== DE:?8 C6A62E65=J :7 J@F 86E E@@ 4=@D6[ 5:DEFC3 E96:C ?6DE @C AC@G@<6 E96> E@ >2<6 E96> >25]kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%96 H@C=5 @7 H2DAD >2J ?@E 86E E96 A@D:E:G6 AF3=:4:EJ :E 56D6CG6D] $@CE @7 ?62E :?D64ED E9@F89[ :7 J@F DEF5J E96> 2 =:EE=6 3:E] %96J 92G6 E96:C A=246 2?5 AFCA@D6] yFDE 2D =@?8 2D E96J <66A E9@D6 DE:?86CD 2E 32J 2?5 @FE @7 @FC H2J] kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmu@C 96=A @? @E96C 9@>6 2?5 82C56? BF6DE:@?D[ 4@?E24E E96 =@42= 4@F?EJ tIE6?D:@? @77:46 @C G:D:E FD @?=:?6 k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^2E246D]65FQm2E246D]65Fk^2m]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAm k^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmk6>mO $92?6 w2CC:D :D E96 r@F?EJ tIE6?D:@? r@@C5:?2E@C 7@C %2==2A@@D2 r@F?EJ]k^6>mkDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
