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Let’s have a look at the most common backyard wasps here in the US and whether they should be avoided or not. Luckily, the “basic” wasp species aren’t too challenging to identify. But how in the world are you supposed to know whether to call an exterminator, or enjoy the presence of a fascinating insect in your garden? Okay, so there’s more to wasps than just annoying yellowjackets and scary hornets. Others just evolved to lose their stinger altogether. Some have a modified ovipositor that allows them to lay eggs in other wasps’ nests but makes them unable to attack. And female wasps usually don’t sting unless they’re defending themselves or capturing prey. Nope! Since a stinger is a modified ovipositor (an anatomical feature that allows females to lay eggs), most male wasps can’t sting at all. On the contrary, wasp venom actually consists of a mix of components, and the efficacy of baking soda has never been proven. Alkaline baking soda would supposedly neutralize it. Myth #4: Baking soda brings wasp sting relief.Īpparently, this one came about due to the fact that it was believed the venom that wasps inject is acidic. This even applies to the “picnic ruiners” (aka yellowjackets), which usually just want their hot dog or soda and don’t attack unless you swat at them (and why they get such a bad rap-it’s hard to just sit there and let them land on your food!).Īs a gardener, I’ve had many days of working alongside paper wasps in my raised beds and been amazed at how docile they were-they were just doing their own thing, flying around looking for nectar.

Unless you disturb their nest, which isn’t very common, they’re perfectly content to just go about their business. Read more: The Foolproof Five: The Best Flowers to Grow for Bees Myth #3: All wasps are aggressive.Ī big percentage of the wasp species that inhabit your garden are actually mostly inoffensive. As they feed, they spread pollen between flowers, helping native plant species thrive.īees get all the glory when it comes to pollination, but wasps (and other pollinators like lacewings and hummingbirds) do some of the work, too! Myth #2: Wasps don’t pollinate plants.Īctually, many do, as the adults of a good few species love snacking on nectar. Their larvae eat the existing larvae, thereby helping to actually reduce annoying species while being pretty inoffensive themselves. To add to this, there are also parasitoid wasps that lay their eggs in other wasp nests. Related: Simple Visual Guide: 17 Types of Striped Caterpillars That May Be Eating Your Plants Spiders alone wouldn’t be able to keep up! This is because many species of wasps are actually not just lemonade lovers, but also big bug hunters.

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Wrong! If your garden contained no wasps or hornets, there’s a good chance it’d be full of annoying pests like caterpillars and aphids. Let’s quash a few of those harmful wasp myths! Myth #1: Wasps serve no function. Others can lead to dangerous situation, like the belief that it’s safe to remove a wasp nest at night because you “won’t be stung.” Some of these may cause you to go after wasps that don’t deserve it. Common misconceptions about waspsĪs with many garden bugs, there are quite a few myths out there about wasps.

They have cinched waists and will be much more interested in your picnic than a bee. They’re also more brightly colored, with well-defined yellow and black stripes on most of the species that can cause trouble. The rotund bumblebee is the hairiest among them, and also one of the least offensive. The first thing you should ask yourself is: Is it furry? If the answer is yes, you’re most likely dealing with a bee, not a wasp. Let’s have a look at everything wasp that you may encounter in your backyard! Don’t forget to bookmark this guide for the next time you come across a striped flying insect and want to know whether to panic or not. Remember: Many wasps eat insects, meaning they can actually help protect your crops and decorative plants from pests.ĭo you know the difference between a bee and a wasp when you find them in your garden? Can you tell an innocent solitary burrowing wasp from a yellowjacket? Do you know which species of hornet are dangerous, and which you should welcome near your home? It’s not surprising, then, that not all of them are evil. Nowadays, the “wasp” definition includes various different scientific families. That’s roughly two hundred million years! This group of insects is found worldwide, and has been around since the Jurassic period. There are tens of thousands of wasp species, of which around 4,000 can be found in the United States.

Striped summer picnic ruiners? Overly aggressive lemonade addicts? Having been stung a few times both as a kid and an adult, I understand the sentiment.īut did you know not all wasps are yellow and black menaces? If I ask you to think of wasps, the first thoughts that come to mind likely aren’t positive ones.