In defense of Wasps

Content warning ahead- so many wasps, one dead spider

I know why you hate wasps- and honestly I don't have much to offer there. Wasps are assholes, it's true. They bite, they can sting multiple times. They love meat and sugar and make eating outside impossible sometimes. They climb into soda cans and sting you in the mouth when you drink them. Wasps suck. 

We should also be very grateful wasps exist. 

Do you know what wasps eat? Everyone. 

The murder hornets trending online for being the most frightening things ever, are fantastic at killing rodents. Unlike cats or other rodent predators, wasps are insects; they don't spread mammalian diseases or pests like fleas. Yes, this is a terrifying insect and you should probably go inside if you see one. It's also a machine of a predator who eradicates far deadlier pests like mice, rats, mosquitoes, fleas, flies. In the areas where Asian Giant hornets are native, their biggest diet source tends to be other species of wasps. So, wasps even help reduce the wasp population. 

Some wasps are also pollinators. Not heavy hitters like honeybees, but given the bee situation we should be doing our best to support any pollinator we can keep alive. 

Some very specific species of wasp are crucial pollinators for some fruits, especially figs. In some areas, the introduction of wasp species have fully restored non-producing fig orchards. 

This post isn't trying to get you to like wasps. I'm trying to get you to forgive them, and accept wasps for the necessary evil they are. A helpful enemy, and one we should find the patience to coexist with when we can.