For many, nothing’s worse than a summer gathering interrupted by a few wandering wasps. On their quest for sugar (their primary food source), they tend to cause mass panic, making us wonder ‘What do wasps actually do?’.
We’ve decided to do some research for our fellow wasp-wary individuals. Are they working hard or hardly working? What benefit do they have in the garden? And can wasps really sting as many times as they want? Let’s dive in!
Why Do Wasps Swarm in Summer?
First things first, it might help to understand why wasps seem to bug you when you have something tasty. And we can only do that by delving into their main priority – their diet. Just like bees, wasps get carbohydrates from nectar – or anything sugary they can get their feelers on.
Typically, they will feed on the nectar that is secreted by greenflies or wasp larvae. But once the aphids have been eaten, and the larvae are fully grown… well, what then?
As the wasps mature in late summer, leaving the hive nectar-less, that’s when the adult wasps get desperate. The lifespan of a wasp isn’tvery long, so they will hunt down any sugar they can get — attacking us for our fizzy drinks and ice creams.
So, next time you’re held hostage for your Fanta, at least you’ll know that the wasp hadn’t much choice in the matter. If that makes you feel better?
The Accidental Pollinators
Now onto why most wasps are actually a benefit to our gardens. Of course, bees, butterflies and the like are considered pollinators. But did you know that wasps are inadvertent pollinators? On their hunt for nectar, the average wasp will hop from plant to plant, taking pollen with them. It’svery similar to bees when the pollen gets stuck on their legs.
Even though they’re not pollinating on
Read more on jparkers.co.uk