Wasps, close relatives to bees, are an insect family with tens of thousands of known species dotting the globe. They play an essential role in the ecosystem as predators, feasting on insects and other small animals. Wasps tend to find themselves in social colonies, creating nests in the ground as well as in trees or along walls and in the eaves.
Wasps tend to be brightly colored, which is nature’s way of saying “watch out, I’m a deadly lil thing.” And rightfully so, many species of wasps can pack an incredibly painful sting that will quickly ward off predators or you and I.