Wasps are small winged insects that measure approximately 1/2″ to 3/4″. But even though they are small, wasps are known to prey on almost every insect in the pest insect category. Some of these prey insects act as food for the wasps’ larvae, while some are hosts for the wasps’ parasitic larvae. Even though wasps as considered as pests, the fact that they help reduce the number of other pest insects is a blessing to human beings. They also feed on nectar from flowers, thus helping the process of pollination.
The male wasps in a wasp colony are produced by the queen wasp, from unfertilized eggs. Their sole purpose is to fertilize the queen so she can lay more eggs to expend her colony. Only the female wasps have stingers that can sting their host multiple times. The stinger is not left behind, like that of bees.
The reason why only female wasps can sting is that they have the ovipositor, to lay eggs, that is modified to act as the stinger. Whereas, male wasps lack this tubular organ.
Wasp stings cause physical reactions such as rashes on the skin, skin reddening and swelling of the stung area. Other serious allergic reactions include nausea, swelling of the face and throat and dizziness. While the effects of most wasp stings are known to wear off within 24 hours, some victims stung by wasps can go into an anaphylactic shock such a condition could even prove to be fatal.
The male wasps, workers and the queen of a colony eventually die towards the end of summer. While the new males and queens leave the nest to mate, hibernate and start their own colony, the ones left behind perish.
Wasps, when they build their colonies in close vicinity to our homes and businesses, prove to be quite the nuisance. Their stings are quite painful and can even lead to serious allergic reactions, and hence, it is best to get rid of any wasp nests as soon as you spot one or even detect the presence of too many wasps around your home or commercial property. For wasp nest removal services in Guelph call: 519-900-1180
