Wasps just as important to ecosystems and human health as bees, scientists say

We gave bees a chance, now it’s time to take the sting out of wasps and learn to love these underappreciated pollinators, writes Harry Cockburn

Aah, look at his little face. We must learn to love wasps, scientists say (Getty )

Amid the worsening climate and biodiversity crises, the plight of one insect is particularly well-documented - the bee.

But scientists are now urging people to look beyond the bee, and for us to take stock of their less celebrated insect brethren - the wasp.

Perhaps it’s the fact that they don’t make honey for us to steal, or maybe it’s that they don’t die after they’ve stung us, but either way, wasps are losing the popularity contest.

However, according to scientists at University College London and the University of East Anglia, wasps “deserve to be just as highly valued as other insects, like bees, due to their roles as predators, pollinators, and more”.

The research team compiled evidence from over 500 academic papers in order to review how around 33,000 different species of aculeate wasps - those that sting - contribute to their ecosystems and how this in turn benefits economies, human health and society.

Lead author Professor Seirian Sumner from UCL said: “Wasps are one of those insects we love to hate - and yet bees, which also sting, are prized for pollinating our crops and making honey.

“In a previous study, we found that the hatred of wasps is largely due to widespread ignorance about the role of wasps in ecosystems, and how they can be beneficial to humans.

“Wasps are understudied relative to other insects like bees, so we are only now starting to properly understand the value and importance of their ecosystem services.”

She added: “We have reviewed the best evidence there is, and found that wasps could be just as valuable as other beloved insects like bees, if only we gave them more of a chance.”

The researchers noted that wasps are among the top predators of other insects. Predation by insects - as biocontrol to protect crops - is worth at least $416bn per year worldwide.

Wasps’ role as predators makes them highly valuable for agriculture as they regulate populations of arthropods, like aphids and caterpillars that damage crops.

Solitary wasp species tend to be specialists, and can be highly adapted to controlling a specific pest, while social wasps are generalist predators, and may be especially useful as a local source of control for a range of crop-eating pests.

The researchers said wasps could increasingly be deployed as sustainable forms of pest control in developing countries, especially tropical ones, where farmers could bring in populations of a local wasp species with minimal risk to the natural environment.

Professor Sumner and his colleagues recently published a study finding that common wasp species are effective predators that can manage pests on two high-value crops, maize and sugarcane, in Brazil.

The latest research also highlights the pollination services provided by wasps.

Pollination by insects is vital for agriculture, and its total economic importance has been valued at greater than $250bn per year worldwide.

The researchers found evidence of wasps visiting 960 plant species. This included 164 species that are completely dependent on wasps for pollination, such as some orchid species that have evolved adaptations to attract the wasps they rely on, such as an appearance that mimics the back end of a female wasp.

Many wasps are also generalist pollinators that visit a wide variety of plants, so the researchers said they could serve as “backup pollinators” if a plant loses its local primary pollinator.

The study also highlighted other potential uses for wasps such as in developing wasp-derived medications, as their venom and saliva have antibiotic properties, while yellowjacket wasp venom has shown promise in treating cancer.

Wasps may even be a valuable food source, as their larvae are already harvested in some tropical countries for food.

Co-author Dr Alessandro Cini of UCL and the University of Florence said: “The value of wasps in supporting our crops remains poorly understood; we hope that by rehabilitating their bad reputation, we can collectively get the most value out of these fascinating creatures.”

The paper’s first author, Ryan Brock from the UEA said: “Alongside other insects, many wasp species are declining from factors such as climate change and habitat loss.

“As such, there is urgent need to address their conservation and ensure that habitats continue to benefit from the far-reaching ecosystem services that wasps provide.”

The research is published in the journal Biological Reviews.