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Social Wasps and Bees in the Upper Midwest

Social Wasps and Bees in the Upper Midwest
Are you interested in having more bees in your garden? Are wasps buzzing around your pop can? Learn about their life cycles, what they feed on, and where they nest. The behavior and biology of the most commonly encountered wasps and bees in Iowa are described in this resource available from our partners at University of Minnesota Extension. This resource was a joint project between Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the University of Wisconsin Extension, and University of Minnesota Extension.

Yellowjacket Wasps: Fall's Busy "Bees"

News Article

We have had more phone calls than normal this fall about yellowjacket wasps.  Many callers are concerned that they have "bees" and want to know how to save the pollinators. Deciding the desired course of action in this situation requires we take a step back (literally and figuratively) and make a confirmed diagnosis. 

Diagnosis starts with a simple question:  What color are the “bees" followed by, Are the "bees" coming from a hole in the ground.

Grass-Carrier Wasp

Encyclopedia Article
Grass-carrier wasp nest

An unusual insect that few people get to see in Iowa is the "grass-carrier" wasp of the genus Isodontia. The name refers to the nesting habits of the female wasp. The wasps fill nest cavities with grass and occasionally other plant fibers till the nest resembles a loose pile of brown grass clippings stuffed into a protected opening.

In nature the nests are located in, hollow stalks or stems of plants, galleries in wood, abandoned bee galleries and in vertical clay banks or bluffs. However, most people who observe grass-carrier wasp nests find them in the sliding tracks of windows or in the space that is left between the screen or storm window and the house window frame.

Carpenter Bee Males on Patrol

News Article

 Male carpenter bees dive at the heads and faces of homeowners and gardeners, causing concern and frustration, but the males are harmless!

Honey Bee, Nuisance: Nests and Swarms

Encyclopedia Article
Closer Look at Exposed Bee Comb on Rock. Photo by Gary Koehler

Honey bees are valuable pollinators and should be protected and preserved.  However, there are occasions where honey bees can be a undesirable.  Honey bee colonies inside the wall of the house or other building may cause a nuisance, a health hazard and a serious threat to the structure. Similarly, temporary honey bee swarms hanging on trees or shrubs may be a health threat though most can be left alone till the bees move on.

Plant Natives to Attract Beneficial Insects

News Article

Pollinators and natural enemy insects play a vital role in our ecosystem. Pollinators, like honey bees and native bees, contribute an estimated $20 billion to agricultural production in the US annually. Natural enemy insects, such as lady beetles and parasitic wasps, feed on or parasitize pest insects and can reduce the need for insecticides.

Cicada Killer Wasp

Encyclopedia Article
A cicada killer wasp on a counter, wings spread.

Solitary wasps such as the cicada killer are unlikely to sting and are generally not a threat.  The female wasp can sting, but won't unless handled or threatened. They are not dangerous despite their large size.

Watch out for European Paper Wasps

News Article

Fall is when all wasps, including paper wasps, yellowjackets and baldfaced hornets, reach their peak numbers for the year.  It is also the time when their behavior changes and people are more likely to notice colonies, or are more likely to be stung by wasps from a colony they hadn't yet found.  Fall is the time to keep an eye out for wasp activity and for wasp nests.
 

Robber Fly is not a Wasp

News Article

One of the most unusual insects found this summer has been the robber fly. Adult robber flies are noted for their voracious attacks on other insects, including wasps and bees. This behavior has earned them the name bee catchers. They are usually found in open and sunny areas ranging from fields to pastures to city yards and woodland edges. They fly mainly during the hotter parts of the day. Often they wait in open sunlit areas where they can command a good view of passing insects and then fly out to catch their prey.

Yellowjacket Wasp

Encyclopedia Article
Yellowjacket wasp

Late summer is the time of year when populations of yellowjackets (commonly called "bees") and other social wasps become large and noticeable. The wasps have been present since spring, but because colonies start as a single queen in May, populations are very small through the early part of the summer.

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