5. WASPS
(Order: Hymenoptera; Family: Vespidae)
[Illustration: Bald-Faced Hornet]
[Illustration: Yellow Jacket]
Identification. This information applies to all dangerous wasps found in
the United States except the mutillids (previously discussed). Wasps are
elongate insects with three distinct body parts and four wings. As with
all winged forms of Hymenoptera, the front pair of wings is larger than
the hind pair. Only the female wasps are equipped with a stinger at the
posterior end of the abdomen. To distinguish wasps from
similar-appearing bees, the specimen’s thoracic hairs should be examined
microscopically to determine if they are smooth (a wasp) or feathered (a
bee). In the United States, members of the paper-wasp family (Vespidae)
are generally considered to be the most dangerous because of their
social nesting habits, aggressive behavior, and abundance. Two
representative members of the Vespidae family found in North America are
the bald-faced hornet, _Vespula maculata_, and a common yellow jacket,
_V. pennsylvanica_. Although it takes an expert to identify most wasps
according to species, the paperlike nests of the vespids make their
identification easy. Another important group of dangerous wasps easily
distinguished by their nests are the mud daubers. These wasps usually
build their mud nests in the corners of man-made structures. Besides
their distinctive nests, mud daubers are identified by their dark shiny
color and long narrow waist.
Distribution. Dangerous species of wasps can be found throughout the
United States.
Biology/Behavior. Most vespids are social insects that feed primarily on
other arthropods. These wasps build paperlike nests by masticating wood
fiber into pulp. In addition to the social wasps, many types of solitary
wasps are capable of envenomization; but these wasps are easy to avoid
since they are neither abundant nor aggressive. Female members of the
dangerous wasp species will readily attack and inject their venom if
someone disturbs or annoys them. Wasp stingers do not become detached,
and a single wasp can sting a victim several times before retreating.
Social wasps are particularly dangerous because a disturbance of their
nest may result in attack by numerous wasps.
Avoidance/Control. Avoid garbage accumulation sites, which attract
wasps. To avoid wasp stings, recognizing the nests of the dangerous
species in the local area, is important. If possible, remove and destroy
all nests found around inhabited areas. Wasps can be controlled by
treating their nests with insecticide—preferably at night, when the
wasps are least active. Treat nests found above the ground with a
commercial wasp spray or other insecticide recommended by an
entomologist. To treat wasp nests in the ground or in houses, a 5%
carbaryl dust may be used.[38]