If you’ve ever been outside in late summer, you’ve probably noticed large, buzzing yellow and black insects flying around. These are yellowjackets, a type of wasp that is often feared for its painful sting. But did you know that yellowjackets are actually beneficial insects that pollinate plants and control pests? Keep reading to learn more about the pollination services yellowjackets provide and how you can attract them to your garden.
Yellowjackets belong to the genus Vespula and are closely related to bees, ants, and other wasps. There are several different species of yellowjackets in North America including the western yellowjacket, prairie yellowjacket, and German yellowjacket. Yellowjackets build paper nests made from chewed wood pulp which are often located underground. The colonies can grow quite large by late summer, containing thousands of workers.
While many people regard yellowjackets as simply annoying picnic crashers, they do play an important ecological role. Yellowjackets are predators that hunt other insects and spiders to feed their larvae. They also pollinate a variety of plants while foraging for nectar. Their pollination services can be beneficial for gardens and native vegetation.
Yellowjackets and Pollination
Yellowjackets contribute to pollination in a couple different ways. As they visit flowers looking for nectar, pollen grains stick to their hairy bodies and get transferred from plant to plant. Yellowjackets also purposefully gather some pollen to feed their larvae. This pollen redistribution results in cross-pollination between different plants.
Research shows that yellowjackets can effectively pollinate various vegetable crops like squash, cucumber, pumpkin, and gourds. They also pollinate wildflowers such as goldenrod, coneflowers, and milkweed. One study found that yellowjackets comprised up to 37% of all flower visits to pumpkins.
Unlike honeybees that focus on pollen-rich flowers, yellowjackets visit many different bloom types to get nectar. Their small size allows them to access tubular flowers that bees can’t fit into. And since yellowjackets are active at cooler temperatures, they provide valuable pollination early and late in the day when other pollinators aren’t as active.
What Plants Do Yellowjackets Pollinate?
There are many garden flowers and crops that benefit from yellowjacket pollination. Here are some of the top plants to attract yellowjackets to your yard:
- Bee balm – Also called monarda, bee balm has showy, nectar-rich flowers that attract all kinds of pollinators. The red varieties are especially popular with yellowjackets.
- Goldenrod – This classic wildflower provides an excellent late season nectar source when little else is in bloom. Yellowjackets will flock to the yellow plumes.
- Sunflowers – The big, open flowers of sunflowers are perfect for yellowjackets to crawl around and collect pollen.
- Asters – Similar to daisies, asters provide important fall forage for yellowjackets and other pollinators.
- Lavender – The tubular flowers of lavender produce abundant nectar. Plant lavender in your pollinator garden to draw in yellowjackets.
- Fig trees – Yellowjackets are excellent pollinators of figs. Their small size lets them access the tiny fig flowers inside the pear-shaped structure.
Providing these types of plants will create an attractive environment for yellowjackets and secure their pollination benefits.
How to Attract Yellowjackets to Your Garden
Here are some tips to make your garden more inviting to yellowjackets:
- Plant clusters of the flowers mentioned above in a sunny location. Mass plantings will attract more pollinators than individual scattered plants.
- Provide a nesting site by leaving areas of undisturbed ground and brush piles. Yellowjackets often nest underground in abandoned rodent burrows.
- Allow some weeds like wild carrots and cow parsnip to grow. Their open flowers provide good foraging.
- Create a shallow water source like a birdbath, small pond, or fountain for yellowjackets to drink from. Add stones so they can perch near the water.
- Avoid applying insecticides which will repel yellowjackets. Use organic gardening practices to encourage them.
- Leave fallen fruits and other decomposing produce for yellowjackets to eat. This provides an alternative food source.
- Consider installing a proper bee nest box to attract yellowjacket queens in the spring.
With a little effort, you can turn your landscape into a yellowjacket haven that will reap pollination benefits. Observe bee balm, goldenrod, and sunflowers closely in late summer to witness yellowjackets in pollinating action!
Benefits of Yellowjackets
In addition to pollination, yellowjackets confer other advantages to your garden ecosystem:
- Pest control – Yellowjackets prey on common garden pests like caterpillars, flies, beetles, and aphids. Their hunting reduces damage from these insects.
- Food for wildlife – Birds, spiders, and other predators feed on yellowjackets. The wasp nest provides an abundant protein source for many species.
- Scavenging – Yellowjackets will clean up leftover bits of fruits and meat. This helps break down organic matter in the garden.
- Indicator species – A healthy population of yellowjackets indicates your garden has good biodiversity and ecological balance.
How to Coexist with Yellowjackets
While beneficial in many ways, yellowjackets can pose some risks with their painful stings. Here are tips for safely coexisting if you attract yellowjackets to your yard:
- Avoid swatting at yellowjackets and making sudden movements near them. Remain calm and still if one flies nearby.
- Monitor areas carefully for underground nests, especially when digging or mowing. Mark any nests you find.
- Keep food covered when eating outdoors and promptly clean up any spills. Don’t leave pet food outside.
- Seal openings in walls, gaps around windows, and holes in the ground to prevent nesting on structures.
- If you find a nest, call a professional to remove it. Never attempt to disturb a nest yourself.
- Consider wearing protective clothing like a bee suit when working near yellowjacket activity.
- If stung, apply ice and remove the stinger. Seek medical attention for severe reactions.
Conclusion
While they have a bad reputation, yellowjackets are incredibly valuable pollinators that can benefit your garden’s health and biodiversity. Their pollination services are an asset, and attracting yellowjackets will also provide pest control and food for local wildlife. With proper precautions, you can safely appreciate these misunderstood insects for their ecological contributions. Supporting yellowjacket populations is an impactful way to create a pollinator-friendly landscape.
