In Ohio, there are hundreds of different kinds of wasps. Many of them like to go to places where they might not be wanted. These intruders often form nests, leading to infestations and annoyances. To keep wasps from building unwanted nests, you need to know what brings them to Ohio and what conditions they need to do well. Hello, my name is John and I’m “The Pest Detective!” I have been a pest control expert for years and love teaching other Ohioans about all kinds of pests, like the different kinds of wasps. Here is a list of all the common wasps in Ohio, along with pictures to help you quickly spot them.
Ohio is home to an incredible diversity of bee and wasp species These insects play vital ecological roles as pollinators and predators, and their conservation is critical This article provides an overview of some of the most common bees and wasps found in the Buckeye State.
Bees
Bees can be divided into several main groups:
Honey Bees
The European Honey Bee was introduced to North America from Europe in the 1600s. Honey bees are highly social, with large colonies containing a single queen, many workers, and males (drones). They produce honey and beeswax and are hugely important crop pollinators
Bumblebees
Ohio has around 16 species of bumblebees. They form small social colonies usually underground. Bumblebees are able to “buzz pollinate” by vigorously vibrating their flight muscles, dislodging pollen that rains down on the bee. They are significant native pollinators. The Common Eastern Bumble Bee is one of the most frequently encountered species.
Carpenter Bees
Carpenter bees chew nests into wood, with female bees boring into logs, beams, or posts. They make individual nest cells, each provisioned with pollen. Common species include the large Eastern Carpenter Bee and the smaller Ceratina and Xylocopa bees. Male carpenter bees are aggressive territorial but cannot sting.
Leafcutter and Mason Bees
Leafcutter bees cut circular pieces of leaves to partition their nest cells. Mason bees use mud or chewed plant fibers. These genera include Osmia, Megachile, and others. They nest in cavities like beetle burrows in snags or holes in the ground. Leafcutter and mason bees are important pollinators of orchard crops.
Mining Bees
Mining bees dig burrows in bare soil. Females provision individual nest cells with pollen and nectar. These bees include Andrena and other genera. They are common but overlooked native pollinators.
Sweat Bees
Sweat bees earned their common name because they occasionally land on people to drink sweat for its moisture and sodium. They make small solitary nests in soil, cavities, or soft wood. Genera include Augochlorella, Augochlora, Agapostemon, Lasioglossum, and Halictus. Sweat bees come in metallic-colored species. They are significant pollinators of wildflowers and crops.
Wasps
Wasps also encompass a diversity of species in Ohio:
Yellowjackets, Hornets, and Paper Wasps
These social wasps construct large papery nests using chewed wood fiber. Yellowjacket and hornet colonies can contain hundreds of individuals. Common species include bald-faced hornets, European paper wasps, and Eastern yellowjackets. They are aggressive when defending nests.
Mud Daubers
Mud daubers build nests of mud, often on structures. They provision cells with paralyzed spiders or caterpillars. Common Ohio mud daubers include blue, black-and-yellow, and metallic green species. Mud daubers rarely sting unless handled.
Spider Wasps
Spider wasps such as Tachypompilus hunt spiders to provision nests for their larvae. They have curved bodies and long legs for crawling into spider burrows. Most species are black with yellow, orange, or red markings. The sting is notoriously painful.
Cicada Killer Wasps
The Eastern cicada killer is Ohio’s largest wasp, up to 2 inches long. Females dig burrows in soil and stock them with paralyzed cicadas. The males are territorial, flying around and diving at intruders. Despite their size, cicada killers rarely sting unless grasped.
Ichneumon Wasps
Ichneumon wasps parasitize other insects by laying eggs on or in them. They have slender bodies and a long, prominent ovipositor (egg layer). Species are tiny to very large, such as the giant ichneumons. They use that “stinger” strictly for laying eggs, not defense.
Velvet Ants
Velvet ants look like hairy ants but are actually flightless female wasps. They can give an extremely painful sting. Velvet ants are parasitoid, with females laying eggs on ground-nesting bees and wasps. Common Ohio species is the Eastern velvet ant.
This summary covers just a small sampling of Ohio’s hundreds of bee and wasp species. Learning to identify and appreciate these insects is a rewarding endeavor for any naturalist. Conserving species diversity and abundance benefits agriculture, ecosystems, and supports human welfare.
Metric Paper Wasp
–Polistes metricus
Metric Paper Wasps in Ohio are aggressive and they are known to sting when agitated. It’s not the same as the Ohio Red Paper Wasp; you can tell them apart by their mostly red thorax and dark wings. Metric Paper Wasp legs have contrasting colors of yellow, red, and black. Their nests are cone-shaped and made of a paper-like substance. The main thing that makes this wasp stand out is the swelling in its abdomen below the thin yellow stripe.
Related post: Wolf Spiders of Ohio
1 Four Toothed Mason Wasp
– Monobia quadridens
Four Toothed Mason Wasps are often found in the late summer and early fall. They don’t stand their ground much and stay away from people most of the time, but they will sting if they feel threatened. People in Ohio often mistake these black wasps for Bald-Faced Hornets. You can tell them apart because they don’t have any white markings on their faces. Adults are usually found on flowers, where they drink nectar, which is their main food source. They feed their larvae caterpillars.
Related post: Cockroaches in Ohio
What is the Difference Between Bees, Wasps, and Hornets?
FAQ
How do you identify bees and wasps in Ohio?
What is the most aggressive wasp in Ohio?
Why are bees and wasps so bad this year?
What are the big fuzzy bees in Ohio?
Are there wasps in Ohio?
lly with sandy soil.LIFE CYCLE: Ohio’s largest wasp is solitary, but many females may nes in close proximity. The nonstinging males patrol the periphery of such colo-nies, d iving off intruders. The female digs a tunnel that extends up to three feet, and a depth of two feet. Individual cells bra ch off near the end. Prey is annual cicada
Are there dark paper wasps in Ohio?
These wasps are common to see in Ohio! Dark Paper Wasps often build nests around human homes and outbuildings as long as they can find good sources of wood fibers for construction. Unfortunately, their proximity to humans sometimes leads to unwanted interactions. Females sometimes sting humans or domestic animals when defending their nest.
Are there wasps around oak trees in Ohio?
This species of wasp (Amphibolips Quercusinanis) is also very common in Ohio around oaks. Red oaks are the preferred habitat of the wasps. They can be some of the easiest gall wasps to spot as they create multi-colored galls on trees. These galls are seen in May. Adult wasps emerge from these galls in June. 22. Long-tailed Giant Ichneumonid Wasp
Do bees O wasps sting?
often causes panic.Even though only a small group – a fraction of a percent of the Hymenoptera found in Ohio – regu-larly cause painful stings, stings are probably what most people first think of when bees o wasps come to mind. For some people, bee and wasp stings are serious business due
Do bee boxes attract wasps?
r even paper straws. There are now many commercial outlets that sell ready-made “bee boxes” or “bee boards” for attracting mason bees, leafcutter bees, and re-lated solitary bees (and wasps, though they won’t vertise that fact). Please see the back of this book f