Wasps Physical Characteristics

Wasps are flying insects that prey on other bugs, killing such pests as beetle larvae, caterpillars and flies. There are hundreds of species of wasps, but the three most familiar are yellow jackets, baldfaced hornets and paper wasps. All wasps have some physical characteristics in common.

Types

Wasps possess two separate pairs of wings and have three pairs of thin legs that hang down when the insect flies. Wasps also have antennae and three distinct sections---a head, abdomen and thorax.

Identification

The "waist" of a wasp, where the abdomen connects to its thorax, is quite slender as opposed to, for example a bumblebee. Wasps also differ from bees in that their body is smooth and lacks hair.

Function

The wasp's head has mouth parts designed for chewing, which it uses to eat its way out of its cocoon. The downward-facing mouth is also vital in defense and in constructing a nest.

Stinger

Only the female wasp has a stinger, which is a sharp thin extension of its egg-laying body parts. Wasps have the ability to sting more than once, because the stinger does not have a barb that causes it to stick in its victim.

Color

Wasps come in different color patterns. Baldfaced hornets, for example, are dark with white on the face, while yellow jackets are black and yellow

References

• Wasps:Desert USA
• Hymenoptera Physical Characteristics:Animals JRank
• Bee and Wasp Stings:UCDavis Website