10 Intriguing Facts About Wasps

Is that somewhat intimidating, buzzing creature a wasp? A hornet? A yellowjacket? Or maybe a combination of them all?

Hornets and yellowjackets are wasp species commonly found in North America, both part of the Vespidae family (with bees being a distinct insect). Vespids are known for their social structure, including a queen and worker caste, and all possess wings that can fold in half.

Here are 10 captivating facts about wasps in the Vespidae family—and a few others worth noting—that demonstrate they are much more than just stinging insects.

1. There are 4932 known species of vespids, and not all of them exhibit aggressive behavior.

While it may seem like all wasps are headed straight for humans, this is far from the truth. Wasps fall into two categories: social wasps and solitary wasps. Social wasps are further divided into three groups—hornets, yellowjackets, and paper wasps—and live in colonies within communal nests. These wasps are carnivorous and tend to be more aggressive toward humans, leading to stings. Solitary wasps, on the other hand, often nest individually in the ground and pose little threat to humans unless provoked. In fact, they are beneficial pollinators and feed on smaller insects and spiders depending on the species.

2. Wasps can be found on every continent except Antarctica.

Though wasps inhabit all temperate regions of the world, there have been instances of unusual transcontinental migrations in recent years. In 2019, 2020, and again in 2021, nests of the Asian giant hornet, native to East and South Asia, were discovered in the Pacific Northwest of North America, raising concerns about the potential for this bee-eating species to become invasive. USDA pest response guidelines indicate that the giant hornet may have entered the U.S. through a shipment of goods from Asia [PDF].

3. The venom of yellowjackets contains a pheromone that triggers other yellowjackets to attack.

Yellowjackets are among the most well-known and aggressive wasps found in American backyards. They typically nest underground and fiercely protect their territory. “When a yellowjacket stings, it marks the victim with an alarm pheromone that can linger for hours,” writes Alabama Cooperative Extension Service specialist Xing Ping Hu. This chemical tag labels the victim as a threat, making them a target for other yellowjackets. Unfortunately, almost anything can provoke yellowjackets, such as walking too close to their nests or mowing the lawn near their colonies.

4. Many wasps rear their young on live prey.

Though this behavior varies by species, it’s common for social wasps to feed their larvae live insects [PDF], which can include pests that damage cultivated plants. Yellowjackets are an exception—they scavenge dead insects, worms, and trash.

5. Paper wasps construct their nests from paper-like material.

Wasps in the subfamily known as paper wasps chew pieces of wood and bark, mix them with their saliva, and then expel a rough, papery pulp. They mold this material into nests, which may contain individual cells hanging downward or take the shape of a gray football. These nests are often found on trees, in vegetation, or beneath the eaves of homes.

6. Some wasps use colors to communicate.

Many wasps use distinctive yellow and black bands on their abdomens to ward off predators, but not all species follow this pattern. Wasps come in a wide range of colors, including red, blue, green, and orange. For example, the steel blue cricket hunter is a solitary blue wasp, while the cicada killer wasp is orange. Bright colors serve as warnings to other species, while darker hues help these insects blend into their environment.

7. A species of wasp in Brazil may help fight cancer.

Polybia paulista, a species of wasp native to Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, produces a compound called Polybia-MP1, which has been extensively researched for its anti-cancer, antifungal, and antibiotic properties. This compound can target cancer cells in humans without harming healthy cells, raising the possibility of new treatments for cancer and other diseases.

8. The Mymaridae family contains the world’s tiniest known insects.

Fairy flies, also known as fairy wasps, are a group of about 1400 species found in tropical regions. These minuscule wasps grow up to just 1 millimeter in length, making them the smallest known insects on Earth. Although parasitic, fairy flies are crucial to agriculture, as they lay their eggs in the bodies of crop-damaging pests, effectively killing them.

9. Some pollinating wasps are highly specialized.

Similar to bees, wasps play a vital role in our ecosystem as pollinators, though they lack the fuzzy hairs that make bees more efficient at transferring pollen. A particularly notable group of pollinating wasps is Agaonidae, or fig wasps. Each of the 900 species of fig wasp is uniquely adapted to pollinate one of the 900 species of fig.

10. Wasps influenced a bold fashion trend.

A popular fashion trend in Victorian times involved creating a cinched waist resembling that of a wasp. To achieve a “wasp waist”—an exceptionally narrow waist in comparison to the bust and hips—women would tightly lace restrictive corsets. Some doctors cautioned against this practice, warning that repeated tight lacing could potentially harm the wearer's lungs, stomach, and rib cage.