Wasp. We all despise them, right? Wrong! No, just kidding, we do hate them. All for the right reasons. They chase you, can sting you as many times as they want, and seem to have no purpose other than to torture.
That’s not the whole truth, though. Wasps are actually a sign of a healthy environment by helping with pollination and pest control in gardens. Wasps aren’t as good as bees when it comes to pollination, but they are great predators. (I mean, obviously, they’re freaking terrifying.) Wasps hunt aphids, caterpillars and other pests that are troublesome for gardens – which lessens the need for harmful chemicals. Wasps also eat dead bugs, and sometimes carrion, like a natural clean up crew.
Wasps and Pollination
Unlike bees, wasps do not have fur like covering hair. They do have thin hairs that are hard to see with the human eye. Without a full head of hair the wasps do not carry as much pollen as bees or butterflies do. But, they are great pollinators, nonetheless. Per defenders.org, there are plants completely dependent on wasps for pollination. For instance, some orchid species (like the hammer orchid or Chiloglottis orchid) have evolved adaptations to attract wasps that they rely on. Their appearance mimics the back end of a female wasp. Bringing in those male wasps and making them think they’re going to get a piece of tail, but instead they’re helping out the orchids. Sneaky lil orchids. With that being said, the frequency of wasps pollination abilities depends on certain plants and regions.
Wasps Eating Habits
Bees use pollen to feed their young which is one of the reasons they are such an important species in pollination. As bees are collecting pollen and going from flower to flower, they are spreading pollen. As pollen is not a source of nutritional value in general to wasps, they are not seeking it out as much as bees are. Though, there are pollen wasps that use pollen to feed their babies like the bees do. The pollen wasps collect pollen and place it in a cell before laying an egg to feed the larva when they emerge. Not nearly as extreme as Spider wasps, the Pompilidae family, these wasps sting and paralyze spiders and take them back to their nest. The female wasp would lay an egg within the spider as the larva would eat the spider from the inside out. Honestly, it sounds like a horror film. Nature is usually pretty metal like that. Even more metal than the spider wasps: some parasitic wasps may even lay their eggs within solitary wasps or bees nests (apps.extension.umn.edu/). Like the Cuckoo wasp, even though they are beautiful to look at, they are kind of evil. To lay their eggs within another being’s nests so their babies can eat someone else’s baby’s food source . . . and the babies themselves? I mean, when I humanize it all like that – it definitely sounds horrifically evil.
The Wasp We Know and Hate
The red paper wasp on the other hand feeds their young caterpillars and beetles which are annoying little critters to deal with in a garden. Great pest control. The adult wasps feed on sugary liquids like from fruit, or nectar from flowers. Helping with a bit of pollination. Red paper wasps are the most common that I have come in contact with. Luckily, I have never been stung. I hope I didn’t just jinx myself. These scary, red guys are the reason I wanted to learn more about wasps; to familiarize myself so I’m not as spooked when I see them. Put myself in their shoes and understand why they are the way they are.
The red paper wasps are generally more aggressive, especially when around their nest. Which is very inconvenient to us because wasps like to set up camp near homes, playgrounds, and even cars. As we usually run, scream, or flail our arms around when we feel threatened, a wasp feels threatened by our sudden movements. Causing them to go in for the sting. It’s like a double edge sword. And to make matters worse – wasps tend to be more aggressive as their nests grow. I’ve found that trying to stay calm is the best way to avoid being stung. All in all, they are just trying to protect their nest and babies. Wasps attack flying insects that get too close to their nests, too. And sometimes, they will purposely go after insects if they seem weak or disoriented to provide protein for their young. This is something beekeepers keep an eye on so wasps don’t harm their colony population (https://blythewoodbeecompany.com) .
Best Defense Against Wasps
If you unfortunately have a wasp nest on or under your porch, in your shed, or on your children’s playset an ideal spray to use would be EcoSmart. It is made with peppermint oil and 2-Phenethyl Propionate; safe for children and pets when used as directed and it does not contaminate groundwater or soil (www.arbico-organics.com). Phenethyl Propionate is a neurotoxin for insects but has low toxicity for humans, pets, and the environment as it breaks down more quickly than synthetic pesticides. A DIY alternative would be to use 20-30 drops of peppermint and eucalyptus oils with 4-8 tablespoons of dish soap with hot water (www.thesun.co.uk) . Essential oils are not safe for pets, though, so be cautious with this method.
Okay, Maybe We Know Wasps a Little Better and Hate Them Less?
By looking into these devilish insects, I’ve realized they may be a bit misunderstood as they are just crazy protective over the home they’ve built and their babies inside. I mean, if you handcrafted your place with literally blood, sweat, and tears (mostly saliva) and had your defenseless young in there resting away; wouldn’t you be crazy aggressive, too? On the other hand, there is such a wide variety of wasps and those parasitic wasps are pretty intense. I still don’t trust wasps, but I definitely have a new type of appreciation from learning a bit more about them. Kind of like a, “keep your friends close, but your enemies closer” vibe.
Thank you for reading !
Citations:
Arbico Organics. EcoSmart® Wasp & Hornet Killer Spray https://www.arbico-organics.com/product/ecomart-wasp-and-hornet-killer-spray/chemical-free-home-care
Defenders Magazine . What’s Wasps Got to Do With It ? https://defenders.org/magazine/summer-2021/whats-wasps-got-do-it Summer 2021
Derrick, Scott . Do Wasps Kill Honey Bees https://blythewoodbeecompany.com/blogs/news/do-wasps-kill-honey-bees 02 March, 2025
Hall, Leanne. The 3-ingredient spray you can make at home and stops aggressive wasps invading your home this summer https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/27816328/homemade-spray-stops-aggressive-wasps-home-summer/ 09 May, 2024
University of Minnesota Species guide – species detail Chrysididae (Cuckoo wasps)https://apps.extension.umn.edu/environment/citizen-science/bee-atlas/bee-blocks/SpeciesDetail?speciesId=105&categoryId=2 2025
Go Green Girl 
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