Pest or Partner: Wasps
Wasps are commonly found buzzing around nesting sites, vigorously ready to defend their home against intruders. But are they pests or partners in your garden?
It may surprise you, but wasps provide many ecological benefits, including pollinating plants and preying upon common pests. Parasitic wasps do not sting or bite people. They attack many common pests including aphids, scales, beetles, larvae and many more by laying eggs inside the pests. These eggs hatch and slowly eat the pest from the inside out. Mature wasps feed on pollen and nectar, so designating areas with flowers within your garden can encourage them to stay. Wasps are very sensitive to insecticides, so avoid or limit the use of chemical sprays to reduce any off-target effects.
Depending on the species, wasps can be either social or solitary insects, living in groups or alone. Social wasps, like yellowjackets and paper-wasps, can become problematic at times due to negative physical reactions from their venomous stings. Setting out baited traps when queen wasps first emerge in spring can help reduce summer wasp populations. Instead of using pesticides, reduce unwanted nests around structures mechanically instead of using pesticides by knocking down nests with poles or using portable vacuums while temperatures are cooler and wasps are not foraging.
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