Here are a few interesting facts about the life of wasps. After you've read this, you'll probably want to take action right away to rid your home and your lawn of those unwanted insects.
- Wasps can sting over and over again. Unlike honeybees, wasps can sting repeatedly without dying.
- They live everywhere but in Antarctica.
- A colony of 50,000 wasps can grow from the same queen in one summer.
- There are over 120,000 species of wasps that come in many colours.
- Only a few queens will survive the winter. They will live for several years.
- They make nests from tree bark. Some wasps make nests in basements, sheds or cool places.
- There are social and solitary wasps. Adult solitary wasps live and operate alone, and they make their nest in the ground. Social wasps live in colonies numbering up to several thousand individuals.
- Wasps will generally return to their nests when the sun goes down.
- They like to eat sweet plants, fruits, flower nectar, honey and other insects or spiders. Some social wasps are omnivores: they eat both plants and other animals.
- The vast majority of wasps play no role in pollination. There are only a few species that can transport pollen and pollinate plants.
- It's important to avoid swatting a wasp near its nest or other wasps because their venom contains a pheromone that causes other wasps to become more aggressive.
- Only female wasps have stingers.
- Humans are in contact with three main types of wasps: yellow jackets, bald-faced hornets and paper wasps.
