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Beneficial Wasps and You - National Garden Bureau

Beneficial Wasps and You

Backyard Habitat, Pollinator GardeningAugust 18, 2021diane

Don’t be scared!

Did you know…Wasp pollination and predatory efforts are signs of a healthy ecosystem!?!

What is the first thing you think of when you hear, “wasp”? Was it a yellow jacket, hornet, fear, nuisance, pain?

What about beneficial wasps? Have you heard of them? What do you think they do? For many, the concept of a “beneficial wasp” is entirely foreign and difficult to believe. There are actually thousands of species of wasps in the United States alone, with the vast majority being solitary, non-aggressive wasps.

These wasps keep to themselves and provide multiple ecosystem services including pollination, but are especially critical for pest control in our gardens, public lands, and croplands. This month we challenged ourselves to see just how many different beneficial wasps we could find and photograph in our gardens at Applewood Seed Company.

Wasp species have a complex evolutionary history and are generally divided into two superfamilies, the Apoidea (which also includes bees), and Vespidae. Of the several Apoid species we found, Bembix (below, on Rudbeckia) is one of the most striking. These Sand Wasps have fluffy faces with brilliant green eyes, and swiftly dig their nests in sandy soil where they progressively provision their larvae with flies over a series of days.

Bembix (above, on Rudbeckia) is one of the most striking beneficial wasps - National Garden Bureau

Apoid Family of Beneficial Wasps

Cerceris or Weevil Wasp species

Cerceris – Weevil

Cerceris (seen here with a friend on Swamp Milkweed), or Weevil Wasp species, are ground nesters and prey mostly on beetles and weevils. Some species also take bees and wasps back to their nests.

Benefical Wasps include Philanthus species called Bee Wolves or Digger Wasps

Bee Wolves or Digger

Among Philanthus species (above on Pycnanthemum, a mountain mint), called Bee Wolves or Digger Wasps, larvae feed on bees provided by the mother. Females cultivate beneficial bacteria in the bases of their antennae that they apply to their brood cells in order to protect from harmful microorganisms, a la antibiotics.

Sphecid, or thread-waisted wasps are very common Apoids Beneficial Wasps

Sphecid – Thread-waisted

Sphecid, or thread-waisted wasps are very common Apoids. At Applewood, there were multiple genera that prey on Grasshoppers and Crickets (also known as the Orthoptera family or Orthopterans.) The Thread-waisted Wasp genus Prionyx (on Buckwheat, Eriogonum spp.) provisions nests with paralyzed adult grasshoppers that they lay a single egg on. 

Isodontia elegans, the Elegant Grass-Carrying Wasp, excellent beneficial wasps

Isodontia elegans – Elegant Grass-carrying

Isodontia elegans, the Elegant Grass-Carrying Wasp (feeding here on Mountain Mint), is often seen flying with grass blades that they line their nests with.  Crickets and grasshoppers are the provisions placed in divided cells within trees, hollow stems, or other cavities. 

Sphex - larger Thread-waisted Digger Wasp is a beneficial wasp in the garden

Sphex – Thread-waisted Digger 

Sphex wasps are a somewhat larger Thread-waisted Digger Wasp genus that preys on katydids and other Orthoptera. Females are ground-nesters and have pronounced tarsal-rake spines on their forelegs (like extra bristles on their front feet) that help them dig out their nests. They are common visitors to Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium).

Ammophila - Thread-waisted Sand Wasps are beneficial wasps

Ammophila – Thread-waisted Sand 

Ammophila species (on Goldenrod) are Thread-waisted Sand Wasps with particularly long petioles (the “thread waist” connecting the thorax and abdomen). Their burrows are filled with paralyzed caterpillars and sawflies that single eggs are laid onto.

Vespidae Family of Beneficial Wasps

Vespidae are another large wasp family that includes the social Yellowjackets and Paper Wasps but also many solitary species. Interesting, most of these solitary wasps stock their nests with caterpillars.

Vespidae are another large beneficial wasp family - This is Stenodynerus

Stenodynerus 

Pterocheilus beneficial wasps

Pterocheilus

Stenodynerus and Pterocheilus are two types of Potter wasps. They use mud to build their brood cells and mostly feed moth larvae to their young.  Cuckoo wasps (which are featured below) often infest these types of wasps.

Chrysidid, Jewel Wasp or Cuckoo Wasps are also beneficial wasps found in the garden

Chrysidid, Jewel Wasp or Cuckoo

One of the glittering jewels of the gardens, Chrysidid, Jewel Wasp, or Cuckoo Wasps (above on Goldenrod) are tiny cleptoparasites, most often parasitizing other wasp and bee larvae. This large family of wasps is actually stingless and the unique pitted surface of their bodies produces their shimmery colors.

Tarantula-hawk wasps are another beneficial wasps found in your garden

Tarantula-hawk

Fear not, arachnophobes- Tarantula-hawk wasps (Pepsis species), are a glimmering sight to behold. These large wasps are fond of milkweed (in this case, Broad-leaved Milkweed, Asclepias latifolia). They lay single eggs on paralyzed tarantulas or other large spiders that they bring to their nests. These giants can be intimidating and have a powerful sting, but are gentle and non-aggressive.

A group of beneficial wasps on goldenrod

Multiple thread-waisted wasps are found on either side of a male Halictus sweat bee and cuckoo wasp. Large goldenrod fronds are often buzzing with a diverse collection of beneficial wasps and other pollinators

Of course, these are just a fraction of the beneficial wasps that are workhorses for pest management. Have you seen any of them in your area? Quietly watch and see that these wasps aren’t enemies, but valuable friends.

Research and Photography by Elizabeth Hedrick-Collins, MS, Applewood Seed Co.
Reprinted with permission from Applewood Seed Co.

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Beneficial Wasps and You -Wasp pollination and predatory efforts are signs of a healthy ecosystem in your garden - National Garden Bureau
Previous post Epsom Salts for Tomatoes? An Expert Weighs In Next post Crafting with Luffa Sponge Gourds

1 comment. Leave new

JIMMY LEWIS
August 21, 2021 1:08 am

I see these constantly throughout the summer. I am teaching my kids that these little guys are very helpful. I’ve known since childhood that wasps and hornets feed on harmful caterpillars. In the last decade I have come to realize just how important these wasps are as pollinators as well.

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