While there are over 30,000 identified species of wasps, they are most known by people for stinging and attacking people and their pets. However most of the wasp species actually are not the ones we think of and are very beneficial at controlling insect populations. Wasps have been around for a long time, with their earliest appearance being the fossil record of the Jurassic period.
The most commonly known wasp is the paper wasp, which will build paper nests in trees, hedges, and on buildings. They will eat many insects like caterpillars and flies, and will also eat the nectar from fruits. They are less than an inch long but can still cause allergic reactions with their stings so it is vital that any nests are removed from properties to keep people and animals safe.
