THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOLITARY WASPS

Wasps WANT to sting you All wasps have black and yellow stripes Wasps are vital to the ecosystem Wasp Myths: True or False? All wasps sting (ouch!) Wasps are just less hairy bees All wasps live in colonies

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOCIAL AND SOLITARY WASPS? SOCIAL WASPS • LIVE IN A COLONY • LARGE PAPER NESTS • Can be in a tree, building overhang, or underground • MOSTLY CARNIVORES • CAN STING WHEN THREATENED SOLITARY WASPS • NESTS ALONE • BURROWS UNDERGROUND, IN WOOD, OR BUILDS WITH MUD • LARVA EAT MEAT; ADULTS LIKE FLOWER NECTAR/POLLEN • UNLIKELY TO STING OR CAN’T STING!

SOLITARY WASPS

THE GREAT GOLDEN DIGGER WASP • ONE OF THE LARGEST WASPS IN NORTH AMERICA • NON-AGGRESSIVE AND VERY UNLIKELY TO STING, EVEN IF DISTURBED • BUILDS THEIR NEST UNDERGROUND IN SANDY AREAS

THE GREAT GOLDEN DIGGER WASP

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Great Golden Digger Wasp

YELLOW- LEGGED MUD DAUBER • COMMON SOLITARY WASP IN ONTARIO • NON-AGGRESSIVE AND UNLIKELY TO STING, EVEN IF DISTURBED • BUILDS ITS NEST OUT OF MUD

YELLOW-LEGGED MUD DAUBER CHECKING ON HER NEST

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Yellow-legged Mud Dauber

CUCKOO WASP • SMALL AND EXTREMELY FAST FLYING WASP • DOES NOT STING, ONLY USES “STINGER” TO LAY EGGS • WILL LAY EGGS IN MUD DAUBER NESTS • LARVAE WILL HATCH AND EAT THE PARALYZED SPIDERS THAT WERE COLLECTED BY THE MUD DAUBER

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