Today, let’s talk about wasps but not in the way you are likely thinking. I’ll admit that I am a little leery of wasps, but I am working on it. I mean, they do look rather like a heavily armed, attack insect with that giant stinger end, but I am working to get over my knee-jerk reaction.
Now when I see a wasp nearby, my first reaction is no longer to run or swat them away. I tend to say hello now and embrace the attitude that they mean me no harm. We can coexist, and all I can say is so far, so good.
So, let’s talk about wasps and the role they play in our ecosystem so maybe you, too, can learn to look at wasps as our partners rather than dangerous adversaries. Since there are thousands of types of wasps in North America, let’s talk about some of the more common ones in our area. First up is the braconid wasp.
You may have seen these and perhaps thought they were a fly of some sort because braconid wasps only grow to be about half an inch in length. They are dark in color and have four transparent wings. The braconid wasp is what we call a parasitic wasp, meaning that the braconid wasp uses other insects to serve as hosts for their young.
One of their favorites is the tomato hornworm. Many a tomato grower has gone out to visit their garden one day only to find a branch or several branches of their tomato plant missing its leaves. This work is often the result of a tomato hornworm feeding on your plant.
Here’s where the braconid wasp comes in. Female braconid wasps i.