Why wasps are just as wonderful as bees | BBC Ideas

Unlike bees, wasps are not exactly the most-loved creatures, but they are hugely important to the eco-system - and all of us. As well as being apex predators, eating their way through millions of kilograms of insects each year, they are also important pollinators. So, here's what would happen if all the wasps disappeared...

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#bbcideas #wasps #nature

[Meggsie]

We had a black widow infestation on our wrap around porch and the wasps killed them all. I wasn't sure why I kept finding dead black widows until I saw a wasp just come down and kill it right in front of me.

[melindaberlincourt]

Wow. This taught me a lot. I won't be inviting them in my house, but now I see they have a purpose.

[pinecat]

me: **sits on a bench**
wasp: *O R B I T*

[goldenwolfae]

even if u hate them they’re kinda cool looking u cant deny. they’re like little jet planes

[trevorjameson]

A few years ago we had a webworm problem in our pecan trees. Those large web tents, containing a LOT of webworms. One day I saw a wasp land on the web 'tent', cut into it with it's jaws, go inside and grab a worm. It flew back to it's nest, and apparently let the others wasps know, that there was a food source there. Then several wasps flew back to the web tent and retrieved worms. They spent that entire afternoon coming back to the webworms again and again until the worms were COMPLETELY GONE from that particular web tent. Very impressive, so as a result, I never kill wasps or destroy their nests anymore.

[Gamerkat]

I love wasps! They buzz merrily around my garden just as peacefully as my honeybees. Never been threatened, much less stung! Even given a few a nice little drip of water to drink on hot days. If you're only calm around them, they won't freak out either.

[jhrockgod]

Wasps are very misunderstood. They're beautiful creatures with amazing colours.
I often sit down and hand feed them by putting honey and jam on my hand, and just watch several of them eat from me. As long as you remain calm and still, they'll happily eat away without harming you.
They now view me as a friend and a provider of food for them, and I feel they would look after me in return.

[Tai-chan.]

I'm allergic to wasp. But there is this small colony on the glass of my bedroom window. I watch them from time to time, so know i wanna know more about them.

[taozhiyaoyaokkk]

if you teach me how not to have it sting me, I am pretty sure I will love it.

[slash]

Me : walks
Wasp: and I took that personally





Edit: cring

[idvdump]

I'm a beekeeper. I get stung by my bees all the time.
But I don't hate them. They're simply defending themselves.
Same logic applies to wasps. They only defend themselves -- they aren't capable of feeling anger or hate, only threatened and defensive.
Just because wasps sometimes inconvenience humans doesn't mean they aren't worthy of respect and appreciation, they are critical for the ecosystem. Humans need to stop being selfish and hateful just because some animals defend themselves and/or have a stinger. Boo hoo. Lots of animals are capable of harming us including dogs who sometimes attack and kill humans, doesn't mean they should be "eradicated". The world doesn't revolve around us.
Not to mention, most people base their opinion on wasps on a small handful of social stinging wasps, when in reality there are thousands and thousands of wasps and most are solitary. Not all wasps even sting. We use parasitoid wasps all the time in agriculture to control pests that would otherwise decimate our food supply.
I actually feed wasps honey or a bit of apple slices by hand when I find them in my garden and none ever stung me.

Wasps are awesome, cool and important!

[tashaschneider]

I love my flower wasps that visit every summer! So cute and they never try to sting!

[TomarBoroDada]

This video really educated me a lot about wasps 🤓🤓

[fuylmfw]

Wasps are beautiful animals
If you understand them you never get stung
I have not been stung in many many years
Even in the midst of a yellow jacket colony I wasn't stung a single time

[KittySnicker]

I still hate them. They feel “threatened” so easily and conveniently

[MarSHornetsandWasps-v]

Many people need to be educated about this. I see a lot of people saying that we should kill all wasps. They say wasps kill bees. I don't think so. Expect some certain species like the Asian giant and yellow-legged hornet, wasps have just a minor effect on beehives. Yes, wasps shouldn't be too many but when you have a healthy hornet population, it will keep the smaller wasps in normal amounts.

[Catstimesinfinity]

Watched this because I have a huge wasp phobia. I feel paralyzed around them. Hoping to get more knowledge to lessen the fear

[Drarack]

There's something sleek about wasps and bees that other insects don't have. I find my reaction towards them much more rooted in fear than in the typical disgust like with other insects.

[frostbitex]

In my town, farms aren't using pesticides but instead use methods to attract parasitoid wasps and paper wasps to deal with crop pests.

With that said, during summer in my backyard - I sometimes see one or two mud daubers or those large solitary wasps resting on the mulberry bush after they drank the nectar from the nearby flowering shrubs.

[robertclarke]

I don't like the fact that wasps recognise borders and the Republic of Ireland is rampant with creepy crawlies that wasps haven't killed