Getting to Know the Neighbors: Commonly Encountered Wasps in Suburban Settings Joe Napolitano Suffolk County Community College Eastern Campus Math and Science Department
University of Sydney Species Scape
Arthropods 12.1% Flies 12.1% Butterflies, moths 36.2% Beetles 12.1% Other arthropods 8.6% Other insects 10.3% Bees, wasps, ants 3.4% Crustaceans 5.2% Arachnids
Order Hymenoptera Bees, ants, wasps and sawflies ~115,000 species worldwide; ~18,000 in U.S. Predators, parasites, pollinators, scavengers Economic benefits: Pollination services ($200 billion/year) Biocontrol (parasites/specialist predators) General pest control (generalist predators) Nutrient cycling Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
Generally hairy Branched body hairs Herbivores (pollinators) Solitary and social Bees vs. Wasps Generally smooth Simple body hairs Predators, parasites, scavengers Solitary and social Ansel Oommen, Bugwood.org Johnny N. Dell, Bugwood.org
Wasps in Suburban Settings Most visit flowers for nectar Forage for prey in vegetation Nests - natural cavities, sandy areas, hollow twigs, trees/shrubs, sheltered areas (including buildings) Social vs. solitary life history David Cappaert, Michigan State University Rita Parkins, Bugwood.org
Parasitic (Parasitoid) Wasps Solitary; do not sting; do not build nests Major families - Ichneumonidae and Braconidae Host-specific but very diverse Generally beneficial; some for biocontrol Long antennae and ovipositor
Parasitic (Parasitoid) Wasps http://cdn.phys.org/newman/gfx/news/hires/2011/parasitoidla.jpg
Parasitic (Parasitoid) Wasps Jim Occi, BugPics, Bugwood.org Johnny N. Dell, Bugwood.org Steven Katovich, USDA Forest Service
Parasitic (Parasitoid) Wasps
Stinging Wasps Only females can sting Subdue prey or defend resources (venoms vary) Schmidt Insect Sting Pain Index: 1 = Light, ephemeral, almost fruity. A tiny spark has singed a single hair on your arm. 2 = Rich, hearty, slightly crunchy. Similar to getting your hand mashed in a revolving door. 3 = Bold and unrelenting. Somebody is using a drill to excavate your ingrown toenail. 4 = Blinding, fierce, shockingly electric. A running hair drier has been dropped into your bubble bath.
Cicada Killers (Sphecidae) Solitary; not aggressive; active in late summer Female provisions burrow w/paralyzed cicada Nest in sandy soil http://jessica Louque, Smithers Viscient, Bugwood.org
Cicada Killers Steven Kritchen, Bugguide.net http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/a-feast-of-cicadas/
Thread-Waisted and Digger Wasps (Sphecidae) Solitary; not aggressive Female provisions burrow w/paralyzed crickets, grasshoppers, or caterpillars Dennis Toten, Bugguide.net
Thread-Waisted and Digger Wasps (Sphecidae) Johnny N. Dell, Bugwood.org Carol DiFiori, Bugguide.net
Mud Daubers (Sphecidae) Solitary; not aggressive Female provisions mud nest w/paralyzed spiders Often attach nests to buildings http://m5.i.pbase.com/o6/16/961016/1/135873565.ocupdkqy._dsc2630.jpg David Larson
Mud Daubers (Sphecidae) LeDoux Tube Eric R. Eaton
Organ Pipe Mud Daubers (Crabronidae)
Spider Wasps (Pompilidae) Solitary; not aggressive Female provisions burrow w/paralyzed spiders Generally leggier in appearance than sphecids Fitz Clarke, Bugwood.org Jessica Louque, Smithers Viscient, Bugwood.org
Velvet Ants (Mutillidae) Actually wasps, but females are wingless Parasitize ground-nesting bees and wasps Not aggressive but painful sting; very hard-bodied Johnny N. Dell, Bugwood.org Roy Cohutta
Social Wasps (Vespidae) Generalist predators (some scavengers) Also forage for water and pulp Division of labor (queen, workers, male drones) Wings fold longitudinally at rest Paper nests (above or below ground); not reused Aggressively defend nest
Paper Wasps Colony founded in spring by a new queen Open-celled paper nest; often in sheltered area Queen rears initial workers then stays on nest New queens produced at end of summer, hibernate and found new nests the next spring
Paper Wasps Jon Yuschock, Bugwood.org Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org
Yellow Jackets Similar life-cycle to paper wasps Nests have paper envelope around cells Subterranean, arboreal, natural/manmade cavities Include German and eastern yellow jackets and bald-faced hornet Tony DiTerlizzi Fritz Geller-Grimm
Yellow Jackets Rescue Pet Control Ingrid Taylar
Yellow Jackets
True Hornets Only one in U.S. - European hornet Similar life cycle, but much larger Can girdle branches, raid honey bee hives John White