HOW WASPS LEAD THEIR SOCIETY?

In recent time, I have received many stories, questions and comments about wasps and their cohabitation with us. Some people claim they have been attacked by wasps with no reasons while others confirm my theory that wasps are good neighbors. In any case, you can love them or hate them. The indifference is not possible. Why? Because wasps are everything but not ordinary insects . They are almost like some kind of special counterterrorism unit with tasks to catch up the bad guys

I have already written about the biological and ecological meaning of wasp organization but still missing to add that they are deeply misunderstood and their role is very important. Shortly, we need them desperately. They are significant pollinators and they take their job seriously ! You can’t blame them for cleaning the garden from pest and organizing your micro world accordingly. Of course, you don’t like to share sweet stuff with them but sometimes there are hints to keep them away in peaceful environments .

First, we must learn that majority of wasps are solitary but there are social wasps like yellow jackets , hornets and paper wasps. Social wasps build their nest on community standards and they have some kind of hierarchy, wasp caste system. They make special networking of working together or making nest, feeding the offspring , keeping the threaten away. If you imagine that they are on this world to come to you and sting you, you might be surprised that their mission is more valuable. The humans are actually not their interests but due to the problems with finding enough food, nectar or offer in nature, they are coming addicted to sugar we usually have on the table.

I see them everyday since they are building nest in the barn. Their flight path is free which means I am also free from possible seen as enemy. I can visit them and observe them without risks. Usually, they are too busy with their awesome architecture that they even don’t give any attention to me being there.

The wasp queen is the one that is starting building nest as cylindrical column known as petiole that has special chemical to repel ants . After that base, she is making single cells, one after another, that go all in hexagonal pattern. It is confirmed that she is able to build up to 30 cells and then is ready to lay eggs in each of them. The first generation are wasps workers that have to collect food and help her feeding the further larvae. It is interesting that wasps workers bring sugar or nectar to larvae that extract special honey like gift to the moving units of wasps. They are so addicted to it that they are like lost when their mission is ended and they have no more gifts and food from the neat. That’s why sometimes they come to bother us because they are simply sugar addicted. In late August , the new queens are born and ready for mating with male drones. After the matching is done, the new queens are ready to survive winter in shelters and to lay enough eggs for next summer generations of wasps. The old nest will be used and forgotten. Will be never reused. Each time, the building home is a new task for the queen and proof that she can lead the society.

My observation confirmed that they leave you in peace if you are willing to do the same. I have given them the water and a bit of old banana so they have fun. When I was eating outside, I have never had any problem with them. They are all over in garden but not disturbing me. I find them very intelligent animals because according to studies of University in Michigan, wasps can remember the human faces which means they know if you are or someone else. Their sting is only for hunting and protection and not designed to get you. They are one of the most intelligent insects and it is sad that people identify them as enemies instead of garden security.

The ability to make decisions and to know where to fly, how to lead the nest society and to fight intruders in the environment you have been seen as evil, put the wasps on the top of the pollinator population together with wild bees and honey bees , their far away cousins.

If you are allergic on wasp sting, please be cautious and try to avoid any conflicts. If it is not possible to live peacefully with them, please contact authority to help you with nest relocation or be patient and wait till they are gone , the beginning of September or latest with the first frost.

When you are bothered with wasp workers in garden when you eat or drink, make sure you give them piece of fruit or sweets far away from you so they will be busy and happy, leaving your private space. Do not play with them, bother the nest or provoke. Let them just be and you will have your safe garden , happy flowers and eco balance of its own kind .