Solitary wasp as an aphid pest controller!
Not all wasps sting us! Most never show any interest in us humans to the slightest degree. They prey upon smaller invertebrates including solitary bees and even honeybees outside their busy bee hives. The wasps either chew up and feed the prey to their young or as in the case of solitary wasps, prey items are captured, taken away and used as provisions for their developing larvae, as in this case.
A Passaloecus species? of solitary wasp inside one of my nest boxes
I noticed the wasp clearing out, what I though were small pieces of wood from inside my orchard bee nest box. I waited for it to drop some and caught them in my hand. It turns out they were dead or paralysed aphids. See video
The larger wasps that do sting us occasionally! will, beside being insect predators, also scavenge on dead birds and mammals.
Social wasp scavenging upon a dead bird
All this adds to the diversity and therefore interest of having a wildlife garden!
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For more information about solitary bees and wasps visit BWARS
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