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More About Wasps ...
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A wasp is any insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is not a bee, sawfly, or an ant. Less familiar, the suborder Symphyta includes the sawflies and wood wasps, which differ from the Apocrita by having a broad connection between the thorax and abdomen. Also, Symphyta larvae are mostly herbivorous and "caterpillarlike", whereas those of Apocrita are largely predatory or parasitic.
Most familiar wasps belong to the Aculeata, a division of the Apocrita whose ovipositors are modified into a venomous stinger that includes ants and bees. In this sense, the species called "velvet ants" (Mutillidae) are actually wasps.
A narrower meaning of the term wasp is any member of the Aculeate family Vespidae. This includes the yellowjackets (Vespula, Dolichovespula spp.) and hornets (Vespa spp.).
The following characteristics are present in most wasps:
Two pairs of wings (exception: female Mutillidae)
A stinger (only present in females because it derives from the ovipositor)
Few or no hairs (in contrast to bees); exception: Mutillidae
Predators or parasitoids, mostly on other insects; some species of Pompilidae, such as the tarantula hawk, specialize in using spiders as a host
Wasps are critically important in natural biocontrol. Almost every pest insect species has a wasp species that is predator or parasite upon it. Wasps are also increasingly used in agricultural pest control.
Mud daubers are a common species of wasp.
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Source: Wikipedia Read more about Wasps
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INFO LINKS
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Wasp
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Wasp Read More
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Common Wasp
BBC Nature: Wildfacts
Common wasps are social insects and live in nests of up to around 10,000 workers. Categorized Information on physical distribution, habit, diet, behavior etc. Read More
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Ichneumon
The Longpoint schoolhouse
Brief Narrative.
Ichneumon wasps parasitize other insects by laying eggs in their host?s larvae. Read More
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Wasp
Earth Life Web Productions
Difference between wasp and bees Read More
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Hornet
National Geographic
Hornet fact sheet and pictures; video clip Read More
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Yard Wasp
University of Kentucky, Entomology
categorized information on description, habits, lifecycle and controls Read More
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Paper Wasp
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Brief Narrative. Paper wasps are 3/4 to 1 inch long and have longer legs and slenderer bodies than yellow jackets and hornets Read More
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Parasitic Wasp
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Brief Narrative. "They do not sting" Read More
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Velvet ant
Desert USA
"Velvet ants ? actually wasps ? get their name from the hairs that cover their body and because they resemble ants". Information on food and hunting, rang,e breeding, description, etc Read More
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Wasp
Kaweah Oaks Preserve
Galls of The Valley Oaks Trees - Beautiful images of different kinds of wasp galls Read More
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Wasp
Amazing insects
short narrative/pictures Read More
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Caterpillar Wsp
PBS
Imagine being eaten alive -- from the inside out! That is what happens to any caterpillar unlucky enough to become the nest for an egg laid by a caterpillar wasp Read More
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