Wasp

A wasp is an insect belonging to the order Hymenoptera, the same group as bees and ants. Thousands of species exist around the world, showing a wide variety of shapes, colours and lifestyles. Some species live alone, while others form colonies with a queen and workers. Most wasps have a slender body with a narrow waist, two pairs of transparent wings and powerful jaws used for building nests, handling food and defending themselves.

Their nests may be made from chewed wood mixed with saliva, forming a paper-like material, or built from mud depending on the species. Unlike honeybees, many female wasps can sting more than once because their stinger usually does not remain in the skin. Their venom is mainly used to capture prey and protect the nest. Wasps are important members of many ecosystems.

Adults often feed on nectar and other sugary liquids, while many species hunt insects, spiders or caterpillars to feed their larvae. By reducing the number of plant-eating insects, they help keep natural populations in balance and can benefit agriculture. As they visit flowers in search of nectar, some species also contribute to pollination, although they are generally less efficient pollinators than bees.

Most wasps avoid humans unless they feel threatened or their nest is disturbed. Their behaviour changes with the seasons, and in temperate regions many colonies disappear before winter, leaving only newly fertilized queens to survive and start new nests the following spring.