Information on Hornets & Wasps

The average layman often mistakes hornets and wasps for being in the same category as bees. Bees are pollinating insects, and hornets and wasps don't usually take on the task of pollination. They are predatory or parasitic creatures.

  1. History

    • Hornets are not native to North America. It was in 1850 that the European hornet stowed away and was found in the Eastern United States. This insect continues to be the only true hornet residing in the United States.

    Function

    • In the environment, wasps and hornets are critical to the control of other insect species. Predatory wasps prey on caterpillars, flies and other small insects, and parasitic wasps lay their eggs on smaller bugs. This is why agriculturists have begun to use wasps for pest control. Hornets and wasps are sometimes known to prey on smaller wasps and bees, but they are also scavengers.

    Location

    • Various species of hornets and wasps are found all over the world except for Greenland and Antarctica.

    Types

    • Although all hornets are considered wasps, not all wasps can be referred to as hornets. There are only 20 species of hornets in the world and most of these are found in the tropical parts of Asia. On the other hand, there are about 75,000 species of wasps.

    Warning

    • Although wasps can be used for pest control, hornets and wasps can also be considered pests if they build nests close to, or inside, human homes. They are usually harmless when encountered alone, but will attack aggressively to protect a nest.