WHAT ARE POLLEN WASPS & HOW TO IDENTIFY THEM?
Wasp plays an important role in our eco system. Most wasps are carnivorous but some species are pure herbivorous. Pollen wasp belongs to the subfamily of Masarinae and they are recognized as a separate family. These unusual wasps are unique in feeding their larvae and they are quite similar to many solitary bees. Most species of pollen wasp are black or brown in color with striking strips of yellow, white or red in color.
These wasps are commonly found in the desert area of South Africa and also in North and South America. Some species of pollen wasps are some what similar to yellow jackets but they can be recognized by their antenna and by their features too. Male wasp have antenna and they carry pollen in their crop. The female wasp lays eggs in the soupy mass before sealing the cells.
They make nest with mud and water and sometimes they burrow in the ground. Pollen wasp leads a solitary life and they gather pollen and nectar to feed their off springs. Pollen wasp prefers hot, semi-arid or tropical climates and only 14 species are found in North America. They basically pollinate wide variety of flowers and they also consume variety of penstemons. These wasps are about ¾ inch long and they are solitary wasp. The larva eats pollen and nectar instead of small insects.
Lifecycle
Pollen wasp don’t live in colonies, they build small individual nests. The female emerges from hibernation and they are responsible for making their nest. The female wasp lays eggs and they provide food to the larvae. Solitary wasp are not that much aggressive. They attack people if they are disturbed. During spring season they eat crops and they pollinate plants.
They also eat some soft fruits and they attack bee nests. The females are normal insect and only male mate with the female. The mature female enters into the fruit through small natural opening which is called ostiole. The ostiole is covered with male flowers and it deposit eggs in the cavity. While getting inside to the ostiole she loses wings and most of her antennae. The female wasp deposit pollen which she picked up from the original host fig. some of the female flower pollinates inside the surface of the fig and it allows them to mature.
After laying eggs the female wasp goes through pollination and she dies. Non pollinating wasp deposit their egg before the fig hardens and these wasp act as parasites to the fig. the wasp egg hatches and develop into larvae and after the pupal stage the mature male mate with female. The male lack wings and they are not able to survive outside the fig. after mating the male wasp digs a tunnel for the female to escape and once the male is out of the fig it dies quickly. The female picks up pollen and flies to another tree of same species and they lay eggs and the cycle starts again.
Wasp plays an important role in our eco system. Most wasps are carnivorous but some species are pure herbivorous. Pollen wasp belongs to the subfamily of Masarinae and they are recognized as a separate family. These unusual wasps are unique in feeding their larvae and they are quite similar to many solitary bees. Most species of pollen wasp are black or brown in color with striking strips of yellow, white or red in color.
They make nest with mud and water and sometimes they burrow in the ground. Pollen wasp leads a solitary life and they gather pollen and nectar to feed their off springs. Pollen wasp prefers hot, semi-arid or tropical climates and only 14 species are found in North America. They basically pollinate wide variety of flowers and they also consume variety of penstemons. These wasps are about ¾ inch long and they are solitary wasp. The larva eats pollen and nectar instead of small insects.
Lifecycle
Pollen wasp don’t live in colonies, they build small individual nests. The female emerges from hibernation and they are responsible for making their nest. The female wasp lays eggs and they provide food to the larvae. Solitary wasp are not that much aggressive. They attack people if they are disturbed. During spring season they eat crops and they pollinate plants.
They also eat some soft fruits and they attack bee nests. The females are normal insect and only male mate with the female. The mature female enters into the fruit through small natural opening which is called ostiole. The ostiole is covered with male flowers and it deposit eggs in the cavity. While getting inside to the ostiole she loses wings and most of her antennae. The female wasp deposit pollen which she picked up from the original host fig. some of the female flower pollinates inside the surface of the fig and it allows them to mature.
After laying eggs the female wasp goes through pollination and she dies. Non pollinating wasp deposit their egg before the fig hardens and these wasp act as parasites to the fig. the wasp egg hatches and develop into larvae and after the pupal stage the mature male mate with female. The male lack wings and they are not able to survive outside the fig. after mating the male wasp digs a tunnel for the female to escape and once the male is out of the fig it dies quickly. The female picks up pollen and flies to another tree of same species and they lay eggs and the cycle starts again.
