Wasp

A wasp is any insect of the order Hymenoptera and Suborder Apocrita that is not a bee or an ant. Less familiar, the Suborder Symphyta includes the sawflies and wood wasps, which differ from the Apocrita by having a broad connection between the thorax and abdomen. Also, Symphyta larvae are mostly herbivorous and "caterpillarlike", whereas the Apocrita are largely predatory or parasitic.

Most familiar wasps belong to the Aculeata, a division of the Apocrita whose ovipositors are modified into a venomous stinger that includes ants and bees. In this sense, the species called "velvet ants" (Mutilidae) are actually wasps.

Larger image.
Aleiodes indiscretus wasp parasitizing gypsy moth caterpillar.

Characteristics

The following characteristics are present in most wasps:

• Two pairs of wings (exception: female Mutillidae)
• A stinger (in females)
• Few or no hairs (in contrast to bees); exception: Mutillidae
• Predators or parasitoids, mostly on other insects; some species of Pompilidae, such as the tarantula hawk, specialize in using spiders as a host

Wasps are critically important in natural biocontrol. There is a wasp species that is predator or parasite upon almost every pest insect species. Wasps are also increasingly used in agricultural pest control.

See also: how to tell bees from wasps

Some Wasp Families

• Vespidae Yellowjackets, hornets, etc.
• Scoliidae Scoliid wasps
• Mutillidae - velvet 'ants'
• Sphecidae - digger wasps
• Pompilidae - spider wasps
• Chrysididae - cuckoo wasps

A yellowjacket wasp drinking
(larger version)

External links

• [1] a pictoral life cycle of organ pipe wasps
• [2] links to many parasitic wasps and other insects used for biological control
• [3] phylogeny of the order Hymenoptera contrasting the groups discussed in this article

The term 'sea wasp' designates a number of species of jellyfish, including the deadly box jellyfish.

See also:

• WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant)
• W.A.S.P. (1980s heavy metal band)

Referenced By