Wasp
Vespula vulgaris
Quick answer
Wasps are stinging insects with slender, often yellow-and-black bodies, of which the common wasp is one of the most familiar. Many are social species that build paper nests and live in colonies led by a queen, while others are solitary. Wasps are predators and scavengers that help control insect pests, and unlike bees they can sting repeatedly. Their colonies last a single year.
Wasp facts at a glance
| Scientific name | Vespula vulgaris |
|---|---|
| Diet | Omnivore (insects, nectar, sugary foods) |
| Habitat | Gardens, woodlands, and urban areas |
| Lifespan | Workers a few weeks; queens about a year |
| Length | 1.2–1.7 cm (0.5–0.7 in) |
| Top speed | Up to ~25 km/h (16 mph) in flight |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Class | Insecta |
| Order | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Vespidae |
| Genus | Vespula |
Where it lives
Gardens, woodlands, and urban areas worldwide; the common wasp is found across the Northern Hemisphere.
Diet and feeding
Adult wasps feed mainly on sugars from nectar, fruit, and human food, while they hunt insects and spiders to feed their growing larvae. This makes them valuable natural pest controllers in gardens and on farms. Late in the season, when the colony stops producing brood, foraging workers often turn to sweet foods, which is when they become a nuisance around picnics.
The sting
Female wasps have a smooth stinger that, unlike a honey bee's, is not left behind, so they can sting many times. The sting is used both to subdue prey and to defend the nest. For most people a sting is painful but harmless, though some individuals are allergic and can have severe reactions.
Habitat and role
The common wasp lives across gardens, woodlands, hedgerows, and urban areas throughout the Northern Hemisphere and has been introduced elsewhere. Wasps play important ecological roles as predators, scavengers, and even pollinators when they visit flowers. By keeping insect numbers in check, they help maintain balanced ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions about the Wasp
What is the difference between a wasp and a bee?
Wasps tend to have slender, smooth bodies and are predators or scavengers, while bees are usually furrier and feed mainly on nectar and pollen. Wasps can also sting repeatedly, whereas a honey bee dies after stinging once.
Why do wasps sting?
Wasps sting to defend their nest and to subdue insect prey for their larvae. A smooth stinger lets a female wasp sting several times, and most stings happen when a wasp feels threatened.
What do wasps eat?
Adult wasps feed mostly on sugars from nectar, fruit, and sweet foods, while they catch insects and spiders to feed their developing young. This hunting makes them useful for controlling garden pests.
Are wasps useful?
Yes. Wasps help control populations of insect pests, scavenge dead material, and pollinate some plants. Despite their reputation, they provide real benefits to gardens and ecosystems.
How long do wasps live?
Worker wasps usually live a few weeks, while a queen can live about a year. The colony dies out by late autumn, and only newly mated queens survive the winter to begin new nests.
Why are wasps more aggressive in late summer?
By late summer the colony stops raising larvae, so workers no longer receive sugary secretions from the young and search for sweet foods instead. This brings them around people and food, making them seem more aggressive.
Social and solitary species
Wasps fall into two broad groups: social wasps such as the common wasp and hornets that live in colonies, and the far more numerous solitary wasps that live alone. Social wasps build nests from chewed wood fibers, creating a papery material in which the queen and her workers raise the brood. A colony grows through the summer and then dies off, with only new queens surviving the winter.