10 interesting, must-know facts about wasps

Although wasps can be useful around the garden by consuming dead insects, eating flies, and acting as pollinators, they can be a nuisance, too. Apart from stinging, their persistence can be irritating and presents a threat to those allergic to their sting. You should seek medical help immediately if you are stung in the mouth or neck or if you experience nausea, unusual swelling, or extreme pain following a sting.

Below, you will find 10 interesting facts about wasps that will improve your general understanding of these fascinating insects. These wasp facts will provide insight into their behavior, social structures, and ecological importance, helping you better understand why the many wasp species are both beneficial and a potential nuisance.

The climate in the Western United States creates an environment where wasps are a year-round threat. If you have found signs of wasps around your property, don’t try dealing with the threat on your own. Contact your local Western Exterminator office for wasp removal and prevention today.

10 interesting wasp facts

Wasps are fascinating creatures with unique behaviors and characteristics that set them apart from other insects. From their ability to recognize human faces to their complex colony structures, these buzzing insects play an essential role in ecosystems. Here are 10 intriguing facts about wasps that might change the way you see them.

1. Wasp venom contains a pheromone that causes other wasps to become more aggressive. Try not to swat one near its nest or other wasps.
2. The sting of a wasp should wear off within 24 hours, but for a small minority of people, the venom in their sting causes anaphylactic shock.
3. Paper wasps can recognize faces of individuals, a trait uncommon among insects, which helps them identify threats and members of their colony. 
4. Wasps live in colonies that form self-contained communities, each following a caste order of queens, males, and workers.
5. A male wasp is called a drone and its job is to mate with the queen. After they have fulfilled this mission, they die shortly afterward. Lacking a stinger on their abdomen, male wasps don't have the ability to sting.
6. Unlike bees, wasps don’t usually swarm in large groups when disturbed. Instead, they tend to act individually or in smaller numbers. Even though they tend to be solitary, they can still group and become aggressive if their nest is threatened.
7. European hornets strip the bark from trees to access the sap beneath, which they use as a food source. This behavior can weaken trees and shrubs, making them more vulnerable to disease and other pests.
8. Wasps feed protein to their young, such as insect larvae, during their early development stages. As adults, wasps transition to a diet primarily consisting of nectar, fruit, and sugary substances. This provides them with the energy needed for daily activities.
9. The only wasps that survive the winter are young fertilized queens. They emerge from overwintering in the spring to build new nests. Initially, the queen lays up to a dozen eggs, and when they hatch into larvae, she feeds them until they become workers. The workers then forage for food, feed the new larvae, and defend the nest.
10. In late summer, the colony produces males and new queens. They fly away to mate and the queens then find a place to hibernate. The cold weather eventually kills the males, workers, and foundation queen.

After reading these fun facts about wasps, you will have a better understanding of wasps and the dangers they pose, plus you will have learned some little-known details about their behaviors and life cycle. Knowing these facts can help you make informed decisions about wasp control and safety.

Western Exterminator are the wasp control experts

We’re the experts in wasp control. At the first sign of a wasp nest on your property, it's important to take action immediately. Rather than attempting to remove a wasp’s nest yourself, which can be dangerous, contact Western Exterminator. Our professionals use proven methods to help safely remove wasps and protect your home from future infestations.