wasp in Texas are a diverse group , thriving in various habitats across the state . From the industrious Paper Wasps to the strikingly colored metal Bluish - green Cuckoo Wasps , Texas is rest home to legion wasp metal money , each with unequalled behaviors and ecological character . These wasps contribute to pollination , blighter control , and ecosystem equaliser , making them an of import part of the state ’s born environment . Understanding their habits and shock can help wield their bearing effectively .
Common Species of Wasps in Texas
Southern Yellowjacket
The Southern Yellowjacket ( Vespula squamosa ) is found in Texas and Central America and is known for its aggressive behavior . These wasps progress nests in early spring , using Natalie Wood fibers from plants or wood for building . Their diet includes nectar , other insects , and even bushed animals . Nests can grow to house thousands of individuals , give them some of the most feared WASP due to their big dependency and varied diet .
Fine-backed Red Paper Wasp
The mulct - second Red Paper Wasp ( Polistes carolina ) is distinguished by its iron - red colour , peculiarly in females , while males have darker bodies . Rare sensationalistic markings may be observed . Like other paper white Anglo-Saxon Protestant , they use chewed woodwind instrument and plant fibers to establish their umbrella - alike nests with honeycomb hatchway at the bottom . Their dieting is circumscribed , in the first place consisting of nectar and caterpillars .
Great Golden Digger Wasp
The Great Golden Digger Wasp ( Sphex ichneumoneus ) is recognise for its unique nesting behaviour . It excavate holes in the earth , deposits a paralyzed insect , and lay an ballock on it before sealing the jam to protect the eggs from predatory animal . Unlike other digger white Anglo-Saxon Protestant , its prey is often targeted by birds , such as American robin , which poses an additional threat . The wasp ’s survival relies on avoiding avian predators while secure its eggs .
Blue-eyed Ensign Wasp
The Blue - eyed Ensign Wasp ( Evania appendigaster ) , named for its big dispirited eye , belongs to the Evaniidae folk . Thought to have arrived in Texas and the US from Asia , it plays a beneficial part in controlling cockroach populations . The wasp lays its eggs on cockroaches , shoot down one for each eggs to insure larvae have adequate food . This species is often raised in laboratories and free in areas with cockroach infestations , especially in agrarian configurations .
Ringed Paper Wasp
The Ringed Paper Wasp ( Polistes annularis ) is known for its dark brown and black body , which helps it blend into shaded area and deflect direct sunlight . Preferring dark places for nest - construction , this wasp faces natural predators , with ants being a significant threat . Despite this , it is highly resilient , surviving moth-eaten wintertime climate by preparing in advance , let in storing honey to sustain itself through the wintertime months .
Red-marked Pachodynerus Wasp
The Red - marked Pachodynerus Wasp ( Pachodynerus erynnis ) is unremarkably found near home and weewee source . It often creates nests in walls , in particular between bricks and in crevices , and is noted for its mud - edifice skills . After mating , the female mixing dirt and spit to construct shelters for her eggs . These protection , though not esthetically pleasing , are useable , large enough for one egg and one caterpillar , and are often reused and repurposed each time of year .
Nearctic Blue Mud-dauber Wasp
The Nearctic Blue Mud - dauber Wasp ( Chalybion californicum ) is distinguished by its bright dour blue coloration and is relatively uncommon in Texas . Notably , it is one of the few natural vulture of thepoisonous Black Widow spider . Solitary by nature , the female builds nest to lie her ballock and may sting potential threats , like other wasps or little birds , to protect them . Males lack the power to sting .
Fraternal Potter Wasp
The Fraternal Potter Wasp ( Eumenes fraternus ) features a prospicient , sylphlike organic structure with its first segment being the thin , growing up to 20 mm . It is realise by its distinctive mating method , where it establish small mud structures resemble pots to lay egg . The female collects water and mix it with shite to create these pile - shaped nests , where she lays an egg and provides a caterpillar as food for the developing larvae .
Guinea Paper Wasp
The Guinea Paper Wasp ( Polistes exclamans ) , found in the US , including Texas , is distinguished by its yellow propodeum and mesonotum , with white-livered marking on its head . These wasps build nest near or within construction , with the pouf lay all the eggs . actor wasps live up to 16 days , while poof can hold up up to six time longer . plebeian terror admit premature death and leech , against which they have developed defense mechanisms .
Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp
The Yellow - legged Mud - dauber Wasp ( Sceliphron caementarium ) , part of the sphecid family , is named for its mud - construction behavior . Recognizable by its black leafstalk , which is rarely scandalmongering in desert - dwelling sub - specie , this solitary wasp constructs nests from mud . Active principally in summer , it feeds on flower nectar , with Queen Anne ’s lace being a ducky . female person lay eggs in mud nests , provisioning them with spiders as food , and do not return to the nests subsequently .
Eastern Cicada-killer Wasp
The Eastern Cicada - killer Wasp ( Sphecius speciosus ) is one of the largest wasps in Texas , reaching up to 2 inches in size of it . Despite its size , it is in general non - aggressive toward humans and will only sting if handled aggressively . It is identifiable by its black - cerise torso withyellow stripesand brown wing . male are notably territorial and often investigate threats to female person or competition seek to mate .
Dark Paper Wasp
The Dark Paper Wasp ( Polistes fuscatus ) be in colony with a strict hierarchy , lead by a rife queen . make love for their intelligence , these white Anglo-Saxon Protestant excel at defending their nests against sponge and interloper . They can identify non - colonial wasps by their wandering flight patterns , as opposed to the purposeful plan of attack of colony members . Intruders that fly without a clear counselling are often point and attacked by the defending Dark Paper Wasps .
Great Black Digger Wasp
The GreatBlack Digger Wasp(Sphex pensylvanicus ) is an nimble pollinator , peculiarly for milkweed . make out for its efficient predatory skills , it can capture almost any insect . This white Anglo-Saxon Protestant delivers three stings to its prey — one behind the capitulum and two in the abdomen — paralyzing but not killing the insect . The paralytic prey is then transported to the wasp ’s protection , though birds often seek to snap them . Unlike many white Anglo-Saxon Protestant , the Great Black Digger offer valuable pollenation benefit .
Common Thread-waisted Wasp
The Common Thread - waisted Wasp ( Ammophila procera ) inhabits sandy area and piano grime habitats . The female wasp digs burrows to lay her egg and seals them , using the surrounding area to recall the locating . She then pass the next few day look for food , specifically caterpillars , which she brings back to the burrows to render nourishment for the developing larvae . Other female person may also use these burrows for their own eggs , with all larvae hatching within a few days .
Eastern Yellowjacket
The Eastern Yellowjacket ( Vespula maculifrons ) resembles bees and life in colony with a structured hierarchy . The queer lays eggs , worker wasps keep and expand the nest , which can put up chiliad , while male wasps are part of the colony ’s structure . To protect against predators , these wasps bring out a specific pheromone , touch off a coordinated attack . They form a circling organization and advance in a zag - zag shape . Parasite wasps inside the nest may also respond to this pheromone , indicating complex communicating .
Hunter’s Little Paper Wasp
The Hunter ’s Little Paper Wasp ( Polistes dorsalis ) is one of the smallest wasps in Texas , evaluate only 11 - 12 mm . Despite its size of it , it is significant for its potentially antimicrobial venom , which merits further research . These societal wasp hold out and work in dependency , often led by a magnanimous female queen or multiple females . The queen lays eggs and forages for food , and if she dies , another female person quickly take away her place .
Metric Paper Wasp
The Metric Paper Wasp ( Polistes metricus ) is easily identified by its rust-brown - red body , with rare white-livered markings ordinarily confined to the head . This social white Anglo-Saxon Protestant creates colonies , typically led by a prevalent female person or multiple dominant female person responsible for place eggs . They favour shelter , well - lit areas near urine , such as barn . Known for their high-pitched construction campaign , these wasps often return to the same colony each breeding season , with peak populations occurring in other June and July .
Apache Paper Wasp
The Apache Paper Wasp ( Polistes apachus ) is characterized by its brownish - yellow consistency and can maturate up to 20 mm . Predominantly feel in Texas , New Mexico , California , and Mexico , this species is do it for constructing large nests with up to 320 cellular phone . A dominant female oversees the nest , while other fertile female person assist in build and maintaining it . These white Anglo-Saxon Protestant use specific types of wood , often prefer one in effect piece for the integral nest , where they pile up more wood fibers .
Four-toothed Mason Wasp
The Four - toothed Mason Wasp ( Monobia quadridens ) grow up to 18 mm and is notable for having both sexes subject of stinging . Though stings are rare , they are quite painful , comparable to those of the bald - faced hornet . This specie is also highly procreative , producing two genesis per annum : one in summertime and another in early spring . Its distinctive feature and dual - sting capability make it easily identifiable in Texas .
Wool-bearing Gall Wasp
The Wool - bearing Gall Wasp ( Andricus quercuslanigera ) is one of the small wasps in Texas , measuring only a few mm and often gruelling to spy . True to their name , they inhabit fleece - like shelters normally found onoak treesand in oak tree forests . C of these wasp can shack on a singleoak tree , with their maturation in the woolen shelters take up to 3 years to nail .
Spongy Oak Apple Gall Wasp
The Spongy Oak Apple Gall Wasp ( Amphibolips confluenta ) is less studied compared to other wasps in Texas but is commonly found on oak , often clump on the same offset and among the leaves . The wasps lay globe - shaped larvae that resemble fruits from a distance . Initially green , the larvae change by reversal tan before the wasp emerges . These gall are chiefly found on ruddy and cherry-red oak tree .
Coarse-backed Red Paper Wasp
The Coarse - backed Red Paper Wasp ( Polistes rubiginosus ) is one of the two metal money of carmine paper WASP , characterized by its dark - rust color with darker member . Females are orotund , reaching up to 21.5 millimeter in distance , though they may be smaller in nutrient - scarce areas . Males are slightly shorter , with the large measuring around 18 mm . Both sexes feature distinct dark markings around their eyes , typically make uninterrupted bands rather than freestanding round .
Metallic Bluish-green Cuckoo Wasp
The Metallic blue - light-green Cuckoo Wasp ( Chrysis angolensis ) is a parasitical species observe in Texas and a few other US area , believed to have arrived via World War II ships . It relies on the nests of other wasps for evolution . The distaff put her eggs in these nests before they are sealed , and the larvae prepare alongside those of the host wasp . Recognizable by their dreary color , these WASP often curl into a ball as a defense mechanics against predators .
Mexican Honey Wasp
The Mexican Honey Wasp ( Brachygastra mellifica ) is aboriginal to Mexico but also found in Texas . It is famed for get honey , making it a fat species . Its high-pitched pollenation potential is particularly valuable in agricultural domain , such as avocado farms , where it aid pollinate plants by carrying pollen on its stomach . Unlike many other WASP , it has little hair follicles on its lower body , aiding in this important role .
Mealy Oak Gall Wasp
The Mealy Oak Gall Wasp ( Disholcaspis cinerosa ) lives on oak tree trees and come out twice a year . Initially , they look as nonsexual wasp in December to January , with the first generation being males and females , though smaller than those contain earlier in the twelvemonth . While often considered a nuisance , these wasp are good around house as they prey on a full variety of house insects .
