Do wasps serve any useful purpose in the garden?
I probably hear more complaints about wasps than I do about any other insect, particularly in late summer when their numbers hit peak levels and their tempers (and ours) become remarkably short.
For much of the growing season, wasps are considered beneficial. While by no means as prolific as honeybees, they do succeed in pollinating their fair share of flowers. They are also enthusiastic predators of other insects, many of which would do impressive amounts of damage if wasps weren’t around to keep them in check. It’s later in the season when they switch from ‘beneficial’ to ‘nuisance’. That’s when their appetites switch from protein to carbohydrates and instead of dining on other insects, they make a feast of just about anything sweet that can be found within a few hundred feet of their nests. Apples, pears, plums and grapes are particular favorites, but they’ll happily go for lemonade or cookies, if that’s what you happen to be serving.
If you have any questions or comments, please send them to me at vanessa@gardenmuse.ca.
Originally published in the Creston Valley Advance on May 31, 2007.
