Are Wasps Beneficial?
It is true that wasps are beneficial since they do pollinate, although less than their furry cousins the bees do. Wasps also help gardeners because they capture garden pests, including caterpillars, maggots and larvae of other insects. Their prey is returned to the nest in large or small portions, chewed and fed to the larva, particularly in the spring. The problem we have with wasps is that in late summer and fall, the food sources are diminished and the wasps begin looking for alternate sources of food i.e. our lunch and dinner on the deck. The wasps search our picnic sites looking for nectar-like foods or other proteins, that we so cherish. Once one wasp arrives and assesses the food supply it will return to the nest to inform others and the interaction with humans begin. By keeping your food and drinks covered and promptly removing scraps into covered containers, this might help avoid contact with wasps to keep the picnic pleasant. In our region, wasps do not use nests from year to year. As fall approaches, the colony dies off except for the new queen that overwinters in a sheltered area. Ultimately, if the nest is not in an area where the wasps will come into contact with anyone or if it is not medically necessary to remove it, enjoy the advantage of these hard-working bugs. If it is necessary to remove a nest, consult a professional.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/wasps-beneficial-randy-bilesky?published=t
http://www.delta-optimist.com/opinion/blogs/blog-are-wasps-beneficial-1.2323637
