Colorado is home to endless outdoor activities, especially in the summer months. The state is also home to an abundance of flora and fauna, including native and non-native species of some stinging insects, which can sometimes get in the way of that outdoor fun. Most of the time, a select few of these nuisance species are responsible for most stings and unpleasant encounters. However, not every yellow stripey buzzing thing is a pest, and most bees and wasps mind their own business, and go about their day collecting food and resources (seldom noticed by anyone). In fact most of these insects (including those mentioned below) are considered to be beneficial organisms that play a role in providing valuable services: bees are well-known pollinators and most wasps are important predators and parasitoids of several other arthropods, which help keep pest populations at manageable levels. Here are two of the most common stinging wasps of Colorado:
Aside from the above wasps, there are a few other insects that are known to sting (though, usually only when disturbed/threatened).
It is important to consider the fact that: although many of these insects have the capability to sting- they provide important ecosystem services including pollination and pest control, without which our landscape would be very different from what we see today. Minimizing the proximity to their nests can play a role in reducing unpleasant interactions, and removing colonies from high-risk areas (including near playgrounds, schools, indoor structures, and patios) can sometimes be necessary. [This article has also been posted on the CO-HORTS Gardening Blog: http://csuhort.blogspot.com/2019/06/colorados-yellow-stripey-things.html ] To learn more about some of these nuisance wasps, and how to trap them, check out this Blog Post: http://csuhort.blogspot.com/2019/04/springs-not-so-nice-things.html For more information summarizing these stinging insects, check out these resources: https://webdoc.agsci.colostate.edu/ipm/COStingingInsectsFINALgb.pdf https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/nuisance-wasps-and-bees-5-525/ https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/european-paper-wasp-5-611/
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About the Author:Abi Saeed is an Entomologist with a specialization in Pollinators, Horticulture, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Pesticides, Insect Identification, and Plant Pathology. |