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Wed, 08 Oct, 2025
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? Wasps |
Aleiodes indiscretus
parasitizing gypsy moth caterpillar.
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| Scientific classification |
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Suborder
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Symphyta
Apocrita
See text for families.
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A wasp is any insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is not a bee, sawfly, or an ant. Less familiar, the suborder Symphyta includes the sawflies and wood wasps, which differ from the Apocrita by having a broad connection between the thorax and abdomen. Also, Symphyta larvae are mostly herbivorous and "caterpillarlike", whereas those of Apocrita are largely predatory or parasitic.Most familiar wasps belong to the Aculeata, a division of the Apocrita, whose ovipositors are modified into a venomous stinger. Aculeata also contains ants and bees. In this sense, the species called "velvet ants" ( Mutillidae) are actually wasps.A narrower meaning of the term wasp is any member of the Aculeate family Vespidae. This includes the yellowjackets (Vespula, Dolichovespula spp.) and hornets (Vespa spp.).
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Contents
Characteristics
Families
Characteristics - Contents
 Wasp stinger, with droplet of venom
 Polistes wasp building nest in California
The following characteristics are present in most wasps:
- Two pairs of wings (exception: female Mutillidae)
- A stinger (only present in females because it derives from the ovipositor)
- Few or no hairs (in contrast to bees); exception: Mutillidae. Though less efficient than bees, some wasp species are significant pollinators.
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Predators or parasitoids, mostly on other insects; some species of Pompilidae, such as the tarantula hawk, specialize in using spiders as a host
Wasps are critically important in natural biocontrol. Almost every pest insect species has a wasp species that is predator or parasite upon it. Wasps are also increasingly used in agricultural pest control.
Families - Contents
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Chrysididae - cuckoo wasps
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Crabronidae
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Mutillidae - velvet ants
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Orussidae, and Syntexidae
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Pompilidae - spider wasps
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Rhopalosomatidae - rhopalosomatid wasps
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Sapygidae - club-horned wasps
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Scoliidae - scoliid wasps
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Sierolomorphidae - sierolomorphid wasps
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Sphecidae - digger wasps, e.g. the Cicada killer wasp
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Tiphiidae - flower wasps
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Vespidae - yellowjackets, hornets, paper wasps.
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Xiphydriidae
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