Just because some flying creature is buzzing about, don't automatically reach for the fly swatter or bug spray. It's probably not out to get you. And you could inadvertently snuff out a great ally for ...

North America is home to nearly 2,000 species of these non-stinging wasps, which are also found in Europe and other temperate climates. Adults are less than half an inch long, with narrow abdomens and ...

A tomato hornworm is covered in cocoons of the braconid wasp. The insect is a parasite on the worms, making them an important natural pest control. Credit: Courtesy of Sherry Monteith Mainers have ...

In the Jonathan Swift tale Gulliver’s Travels, a man is captured by a swarm of tiny people who overpower him by their sheer number. While the story is meant to be taken satirically rather than ...

Whenever I asked students to tell me how insects were ecologically important, two of the most common responses were “as plant pollinators” and “some insects were vectors/carriers of diseases.” It ...

Costa Rica reveals astonishing biodiversity of braconid wasps, with 277 new species of the tribe Heterospilini described, from a total of 286 attributed to the group. The study is the second part of ...

Braconid parasite wasps and their caterpillar hosts form a unique host-parasite model: the wasps lay their eggs inside the caterpillars and simultaneously inject some viral particles to get around the ...

There are three groups of fascinating wildlife that folks have difficulty appreciating — wasps, spiders and snakes. Today, we’ll discuss wasps. All wasps are beneficial. They feed on — and feed to ...

Anyone who's been stung by wasps can be excused for not feeling too kindly toward them. But when you see a flying creature buzzing about, don't automatically reach for the fly swatter or bug spray.

Over 200,000 species of wasps reproduce in a parasitic manner by injecting their eggs into larvae along with a dose of virus-like particles that compromise the larvae’s immune system and overall ...