Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. It’s late summer, and the dog-day cicadas (Tibicen canicularis, identifiable by its large size and black-and-olive-green pattern ...

Whenever I asked students to tell me how insects were ecologically important, two of the most common responses were “as plant pollinators” and “some insects were vectors/carriers of diseases.” It ...

Last week, I noticed a huge wasp perched on a dried-up cucumber leaf. It was a male cicada killer wasp, Sphecius speciosus. These beneficial wasps show up each year shortly after the annual cicadas ...

I’d like to get some information on wasps. Should I automatically destroy any nests I find? I seem to remember that wasps pollinate flowers. I’ve also read that some wasps eliminate garden pests. — ...

Have you ever stumbled upon a wasp nest? At first glance, it might look like a small ball, but don't be tempted to disturb its residents. Here's why. Wasps can be a real annoyance, buzzing around your ...

Last summer a young man brought an insect to my office for identification. He told me he had witnessed this insect, a large wasp, kill a cicada. A bit hesitant to tell the story, he was not sure ...

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › If you’re noticing an increasing number of wasps in your outdoor living space, or even ...

Wasps are often feared and respected for their ability to sting. Some species may become aggressive if closely approached or disturbed. Others will not sting people or animals until after direct ...