Wasps serve several important ecological purposes:

• Natural pest control: Wasps are predators that help control populations of many insects considered pests, such as greenfly, caterpillars, aphids, and spiders. They capture and feed on these insects, which protects crops and gardens from damage. Social wasps in the UK alone are estimated to capture around 14 million kilograms of insect prey each summer

• Pollination: Wasps are valuable pollinators, transferring pollen as they visit flowers for nectar. Some plants, including many orchids and figs, rely heavily or exclusively on wasps for pollination. This role supports biodiversity and crop production

• Parasitism: Certain wasp species are parasitoids that lay eggs inside other insects. The larvae then consume the host insect from within, naturally regulating pest populations. This biological control is used in agriculture to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides

• Supporting yeast in grape growing: Wasps contribute to the yeast populations on grapes by carrying yeast in their stomachs and transferring it between grape crops. This interaction supports fermentation processes important for wine and bread production

• Ecosystem cleaning: Wasps help remove dead insects by carrying carcasses back to their nests, preventing mold buildup and maintaining environmental cleanliness

In summary, despite their sometimes annoying behavior, wasps are crucial for maintaining ecological balance through pest control, pollination, parasitism, and supporting agricultural processes, making them indispensable to healthy ecosystems and food production