Sm Nahiduzzaman
Wasps are the last thing that most people would wish to have in their summer picnics or gardens when the hot weather comes. They are not at all compared to the bees that people often praise for their hard work and sweetness. Rather, they are generally thought of as being an irritating and stinging problem which is aggressive in nature.
Nevertheless, new study indicates that we should reverse our hate angle. They are not at all the villains of nature, in fact, they contribute substantially to the survival of different ecosystems – and even in the human lives. Some scientists are now saying that the lesson of acknowledging wasps might be equally as important as the saving of bees.
The World’s Most Misunderstood Insect
For a long time, wasps have been portrayed as the “bad guys” in the insect world. One of the reasons for this is their sharp stinger, another is their habit of nesting close to people, and the third is their seemingly aggressive attitude. As a result, surveys conducted in various countries always put wasps on the most disliked species list of the Earth.
However, this is the view that scientists are challenging and stating that the perception of wasps is unfair and incomplete. Dr. Seirian Sumner, University College London entomologist and a leading voice in wasp research, says the insects should have been misunderstood for much less time. “Wasps aren’t just nuisances,” she says. “They are necessary predators, pollinators, and ecosystem engineers. The absence of them would bring us all kinds of ecological disasters.”
In fact, humans often decide the fate of animals based on whether they appear to be helpful or inconvenient for them. Bees are getting fame for honey. Butterflies are getting affection from people for their prettiness. On the contrary, the wasps who completely dedicate themselves to the nature without making any noise, are not at all acknowledged.
Silent Pest Controllers
One of the most beneficial services wasps offers is the provision of natural pest control. Several wasp species feed on insects that humans label as pests, i.e., caterpillars, flies, and aphids. Wasps, therefore, do the job quietly and for free without us having to use chemical pesticides, which can be harmful to bees, butterflies, and even the human body.
Scientific research has just come out that positions wasps as the main controllers of natural sufferers of farm plants/stocks, thus, saving these farmers a lot, a few million dollars, in total, in crop damage. In areas where the use of pesticides is strictly regulated, wasps have kept such places as a safe alternative to be used for the protection of crops in the future.
“Every wasp you see could be reducing the number of pests in your garden or on your food,” says Dr. Sumner. “They are natures pest-control army.”
Indeed, wasps, though silent and hidden from public view, are a great help to gardeners and farmers as well. In particular, they play a significant role in the reduction of the use of expensive chemicals and, thereby, in the maintenance of the natural balances of the ecosystems.
Wasps as Pollinators
It is a fact that wasps help plants to reproduce while bees get all the attention for pollination. One of orchid species is a perfect example that shows how these flowers depend on wasps for their pollens. The scientists found out that wasps visit many different kinds of flowers and quite often they transfer the pollen while they get the nectar for themselves.
Their effort to keep nature going would be similar to that of bees, however, they may be not as capable. The support from them is what adds to biodiversity and the robustness of the ecosystems. Before considering that wasps probably could not take over the role of bees, it is worth giving a thought to the fact that wasps might become even more significant pollinators than they are now in the future if the global bee populations continue to dwindle.
Fig wasps in the tropics are extremely important as they are the source of life for the forests. It means that the food-providing fig trees could not go on if the wasps disappeared. This is a very vivid example of the impact that the disappearance of wasps would have on the planet.
A Source of Innovation
Besides their essential functions in nature, wasps are also the source of numerous scientific and medical breakthroughs. Some species' venom is being explored for cancer therapy, as a few toxins in the venom are able to kill cancer cells while leaving healthy ones unharmed. One more example is the study of wasp silk which is considered to be the source of new biodegradable materials.
The paper-like nests of wasps have also inspired the human designs. Their detailed and complex, made from the softened wood fibers, has been the source of the development of the new sustainable building materials. The engineers have been looking at wasp nests as models for their very light yet strong buildings and hoping to be able to use the same concepts in architecture and packing.
To sum up, wasps are not only pests that should be avoided—they may be the key to the advancement of medicine, materials science, and technology.
Changing Our Perspective
Why do we still despise wasps? A large part of it is attributed to human psychics. Wasps don’t make honey, unlike bees, so we cannot see any direct advantage to us of their being. Along with their painful sting and propensity to fly past human food, it’s not surprising that they’ve gotten such a bad rep.
However, scientists say that if we were to change our mindset, we could possibly have a more peaceful coexistence with those animals. “Bees sting as well, but the reason why we have learned to put up with them is that we get honey from them,” says Dr. Sumner. “If people knew what wasps gave us, they would not be so quick to make such a rash judgment.”
This change in attitude is the key point. Conservation of wasps without support from the public may not even take off. Still, saving them is just as necessary as saving the bees, the butterflies, and other pollinators.
How to Coexist with Wasps
Firstly, understanding wasps does not necessarily mean that we have to accept their annoying buzzing during our meals. The experts recommend the following steps that can minimize friction:
>When eating outside, food should always be covered in order not to attract wasps.
>In addition to this, bins should be thoroughly sealed since waste products containing sugar are very attractive to wasps.
>Moreover, putting flowers or apple trees that attract wasps away from where you are sitting is a good idea because wasps will come to that place for feeding instead of your area.
>You should refrain from using the aggressive method, which would cause the wasp to attack in your panic more than provoke an attack or yours.
>Another helpful thing to do is to just respect their nests. If they happen to be nests that are not in dangerous locations, you could just let them be.
By using such small strategies, we can stay away from stings and at the same time give wasps a chance to go on with their earth-saving work.
A Call for Wasp Appreciation
The scientific community’s message is quite apparent: wasps should get more kudos than they presently receive. They kill pests, are pollinators, and the source of new medicines in health research. If they vanish, it will bring imbalance to nature and rob humans of future benefits.
Dr. Sumner emphasizes that it is important to understand that a wasp is not bothering you, it is a part of the big picture of ecological balance and survival.
Far from a heroic position, the wasp next time it hangs over your meal still can be a natures-victor though, and if you would catch it and not shoo it away a moment of reflection might strike concerning the heroic role of this seldom-glorified insect. No sympathy for wasps may be the case, but that should not stop us from acknowledging their indispensable service towards a balanced planet and consequently for our health too.
