What’s the Point of Wasps? Annoying, Yes – But Weirdly Useful

Wasps are dumb. There I said it.

They are gross, mean, and too big an insect. Do they even do anything? I know bees pollinate plants. Other bugs breakdown organic material. And the job of most of the rest of the bugs is to be food for bats, birds and fish. But wasps? Who eats them? What good do they do?

In South Dakota the wasp you'll see is likely a yellowjacket. Melanie Lynskey is my favorite Yellowjacket, and unlike the bug, she is welcome to sneak into my car when the window is down. Or up. Or the door is open. Melanie Lynskey is always welcome in my car.

Anyways, yellowjackets and paper wasps are the social wasps that make nests and lumber around the air startling you while you ty to enjoy a nice sunny day.

What are Wasps

When we think of wasps, usually we mean ones like yellowjackets. They live like bees, in nests with an egg-laying queen. Wasps are related to bees and ants, they likely share an ancestor.

Yellowjacket is the "common name in North America for predatory social wasps of the genera Vespula and Dolichovespula." Did you see that?!?! "Predatory!" Bees make honey and wasps are plotting to eat you!

OK, they may not 'eat' you, but what good are wasps?

What Do Wasps Do?

Well, It seems I may have got all wound up for no reason. Apparently, wasps are the bats of the bug world. it is true that they are predators, but they feed on other bugs, like flies, spiders (I know, not a bug), and other little buzzing annoyances.

And While they are feed meat to their larva, adult wasps are sugar-lovers, they spend their time searching for sugars from flowers, just like bees. While they do that they pollinate plants.

So, fine. Wasps ARE useful and important. But they are still scary and gross.

READ MORE: Discover The Bats That Call South Dakota Home

Who Eats Wasps

Wasps are important parts of the food chain in another way, they are eaten by other things. Dragonflies and caterpillars will feast on wasps. Go dragonflies!

Birds, lizards, frogs and some mammals also eat wasps. In fact a skunk loves to find a nest and have a larva lunch.

How to Make Wasps Go Away

Fine, I get it. Wasps do good things. Eating other bugs is the number one thing I want from any bug. It's why I try to live in peace with the spiders in my house. And while they don't make honey, I guess helping the food we eat grow is important.

But, I still don't want wasps all up in my business.

In all my research keeping wasps out of your patio or deck area is pretty straight forward.

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Keep the yard clean - This removes tempting nesting spots. Wasps are also drawn to garbage food, and pet food, so keep the cans covered and don't leave food unattended.

And when it's time to bring out the big guns, call your hippy aunt and ask where to get some peppermint oil. Man, wasps hate that smell. You can also plant mint, that'll work too.

Read More: Groovy: The Most Hippie Towns In the Upper Midwest 

Fine, I begrudgingly agree that wasps are good and necessary. They can continue to do their wasp things. But, I will still show no mercy if some lumbering wasp flies into my car or finds itself inside my house. A man has to have a code 😉.