Wasp
Yellowjacket
Image: Nash Turley / © Copyrighted
More about Wasps
Wasps are related to bees and ants but are far more diverse. There are hundreds of thousands of species, most yet to be discovered. They are extremely variable in shape, size, and behavior. Most wasps are predators of other insects and play important role in controlling the populations of other insects, including many pests. Some species also visit flowers to drink nectar however, they do not gather and carry pollen like bees.
Normally have a narrow "waist" between their thorax and abdomen
Image: Roel Fleuren / © Copyrighted
Most wasps have long, narrow antennae that are longer than their head
Image: Roel Fleuren / © Copyrighted
Mean looking face with "alien" like eyes
Image: JL Boyer / CC BY 4.0
Colorations are on their body not on their hairs and most are not hairy
Image: Nash Turley / © Copyrighted
Legs often have spikes on them for capturing and holding prey
Image: Lee Elliot / CC BY NC-SA 2.0
Some flower wasps look a lot like bees, can be fuzzy and have long abdomens with series of colored rings
Image: Mary Keim / CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Wings vary in color from clear to a dark smoky look
Many have folded front wings which can give them the appearance of only having 1 pair of wings
Image: Rob Curtis / CC BY 4.0
