Page 28 - ALG Issue 3 2021
P. 28

                                   biodiversity
What do wasps do?
     Wasps have generally earned themselves a bad reputation. But despite their occasional aggression, these insects play an important role in the ecosystem. There are over 7,000 wasp species living in the UK, comprising a huge variety of solitary and social species. The majority
are parasitoids, which have young that eat insects or spiders alive. However, the most commonly seen wasps are the black and yellow social species. Colonies of social wasps
are considered annoying pests – they often nest in manmade structures and deal out painful stings if you get too close. Yet despite our grievances, the ecosystem actually relies on these underappreciated insects.
Wasps are probably best known for disrupting summer picnics, but they are actually very important in keeping the ecosystem balanced. Without wasps, the world could be overrun with spiders and insects. Each summer, social wasps in the UK capture an estimated 14 million kilogrammes of insect prey, such as caterpillars and greenfly. Perhaps we should be calling them a gardener's friend.
Dr Gavin Broad, a wasp expert at the Museum, says: “Wasps are generally apex predators – so if they're not doing well, it indicates that there is something wrong with the world.”
Wasps are hugely beneficial to their native ecosystems due to the sheer amount of insects they capture. Adult wasps don't eat the prey they kill – they feed it to their young. Social species capture insects, chop them up and carry parts back to the nest. Some solitary species are more sinister. For example, most spider wasps paralyse arachnid prey using a venomous sting. Their larvae then eat the victim alive. There are almost 5,000 species of spider
wasp worldwide, including 44 species in Britain.
Instead of eating insects and spiders, adult wasps – both social and solitary – only feed on sugars. In the wild, sugars come from flower nectar and honeydew produced by aphids. Wasp larvae also produce a sugary liquid that the adults consume. Wasps are also a food source for other animals - including other wasps.
“There is also a lot of sugar at pubs and picnics. Adult wasps don't live very long, so they don't really need protein. They've just got to load up on carbs,” explains Gavin.
When on the hunt for nectar, wasps can also become accidental pollinators by travelling from plant to plant carrying pollen. While their contribution to pollination may not be as substantial as bees', wasps still play a valuable part.
There is also a lot of sugar at pubs and picnics. Adult wasps don't live very long, so they don't really need protein. They've just got to load up on carbs
The lives of wasps in the UK are dictated by the seasons. They need large amounts of insects to feed their young, so are only active in the warmer months, when food is readily available. The worker wasps of social species
die off late in autumn, while recently emerged females hibernate. They spend the cold months in sheltered areas such as lofts and animal burrows. But only some survive the chill. Those that do emerge when the weather warms up begin to form new colonies. After
  be biofriendly
          Ladybird Plantcare
Pests can damage plants and destroy crops. Whether it be blackfly on your beans or slugs eating your cabbages, it’s devastating when all your nurturing goes to waste.
That’s where we can help, Ladybird Plantcare sell bugs that are natural predators of the bugs you don’t want on your plants. Biological pest control is the act of boosting the population of a pest’s naturally occurring predators. There is no need to use harmful chemicals.
From ladybirds to nematodes, we have solutions to help with most pest problems. Browse the site or get in touch for help with your specific problem.
        www.ladybirdplantcare.co.uk
            28 Allotment and Leisure Gardener
     












































































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