Black wasps belong to the pompilid family. Ground or road insects are medium to large in size, 1.5-5 cm in length. They feed on spiders, bedbugs. An insect bite is dangerous to humans, as an allergic reaction to poison can be fatal.
The sting of such a wasp is very powerful, capable of piercing a thick shell without problems.therefore no amount of clothing will save the victim from attack. At the same time, in household plots, stalk-bellies destroy spiders and flies, pollinate flowers and plants, which helps people.
Black wasps rarely attack without reason, so if you observe safety measures, you can avoid meeting an insidious enemy.
What does it look like
The black wasp is slightly larger in size than the usual yellow relatives and reaches 1.5-5 cm in length. They have a dark head and chest, the abdomen can be covered with spots or stripes of yellow, white, purple, depending on the type of pompilids.
The wings are smoky, folded parallel to the body. Legs of earthen wasps are thin and long, equipped with combs for digging. The head has eyes and antennae. The body is covered with fine short hairs.
Pompilids have a very powerful sting that freely penetrates the shell of insects or larvae. Black individuals move feverishly, performing zigzags, they constantly flap their wings. Such dashes are periodically replaced by short flights. Wasps feed on nectar, while the larvae feed on the harvested body of a spider or other insect.
Mimicry
As already mentioned, sirphids are outwardly very similar to stinging insects - wasps, bees, bumblebees. The hoverflies seem to disguise themselves as them, and their striped black and yellow color helps them in this. But upon closer inspection, you can see the difference:
- in sirphids, antennae are much shorter (for example, a wasp has antennae up to 1 cm);
- they are smaller than wasps, bees, etc. (excluding especially large species);
- they have 1 pair of wings, while stinging ones have 2.
But even with these minor differences, nothing prevents sirphids from feeling quite at ease and boldly in nature: their external imitation (mimicry, from the English word mimicry - disguise, imitation) by dangerous stinging insects is so believable that few birds risk attacking them, especially if earlier there was already a sad experience of contact with a wasp. But all this - with the absolute harmlessness and even some defenselessness of the sirfids.
Nature has endowed these flies with such a color, thanks to which they can not be afraid of enemy attacks. Hence, there are several other popular names for hoverflies: bee, wasp, wasp fly, etc.
Habitat
Black wasps can live almost anywhere except in an extremely harsh climate. Since insects live in the ground, it is important for them to find loose soil suitable for digging, but at the same time, the soil should not crumble, otherwise the dwelling will be unstable. Wasps usually settle in a mixture of clay, sand and limestone, it is this composition that provides all the needs of insects.
In Russia, the earthen species can be found in fields, forests, near roads, in gardens, vegetable gardens, summer cottages.
Often, black insects settle near residential buildings. In the backyard, wasps destroy flies and spiders, pollinate plants, which provide significant assistance to humans.
- Cryptochilus ringed lives in Central Asia, Crimea, Transcaucasia.Loves rocky areas. These wasps are distinguished by orange wings and yellow stripes on the abdomen.
- The tarantula hawk inhabits South America. This is a very large wasp, 5 cm long, and the sting reaches 7 mm. The larvae of such pompilids mature longer than those of other earthy wasps and feed on the body of a poisonous tarantula.
- The red-bellied road wasp is found in the middle zone of Eurasia. Its abdomen is covered with red spots, from where this species got its name. The larvae are fed by the wolf spider.
Hover flies
Hoverflies, they are also sirphids, are a large family, which includes about 6,000 species. Some of them look more like bees, others like wasps, others like bumblebees. They live everywhere, with the exception of Antarctica, desert regions and tundra. They got their name from the characteristic sound made by the wings.
Interesting! Syrphidologists are engaged in the study of hoverflies. They even run special fly research symposia.
A striped wasp-like insect that is absolutely harmless to humans. Often it can be found on plantings of dill, carrots, parsley, flowering plants in the garden. Adult hoverflies feed exclusively on flower nectar, pollen and take pride of place among pollinating insects
What hoverfly larvae eat
Sirphid larvae look like small leeches. They are distinguished by a wrinkled body of yellow or greenish color. They have no legs and they are not characterized by special mobility. They feed on aphids, insect eggs, spider mites, which bring considerable benefits to agricultural land. A caring mother sirfida lays eggs directly in the aphid habitat.
The period of development of the hoverfly larva lasts 15-20 days. Young individuals are very voracious and by the end of maturation they eat up to 200 aphids, and in general, they destroy about 2,000 small insects during their life.
However, not all hoverfly larvae prefer to be seen in the garden pest menu. Food addictions are very diverse for all species. Some of them are purely vegetarians and eat only plant tissues. The most exotic representatives process manure or wood.
Lifestyle
In the spring, black wasps collect nectar, spend the night in the hollows of trees, flowers, plants, grass. In May-June, they begin to dig holes to create offspring, which only the uterus can produce. In each colony, there is only one queen and all the other wasps carefully protect her.
The tunnel can be 3 cm deep. At the end of the mink there is a cell for the larva. So that during the absence of the black wasp no one penetrates inside the tunnel, it is blocked with a pebble or earthen breast.
On a hunt, the uterus looks for a spider and paralyzes it with its poison. She cannot fly with a heavy load, therefore, she pulls prey along the ground. Having placed the spider in a prepared cell, the uterus lays an egg over the body, which, after a few hours, transforms into a larva.
Within 2 weeks, a new individual goes through a full stage of development. During this period, the larva feeds exclusively on the harvested body of the spider, eating it gradually. First, it consumes the reproductive and excretory systems, then goes on to other organs, leaving the nervous and respiratory systems in the end. This is necessary for the spider to remain alive until the larva is fully mature.
At the end of the cycle, a cocoon is formed, and after a few more days the adult of the black wasp hatcheswho prefers nectar. If the larva was postponed at the end of summer, then, not having time to go through the entire cycle, it can stay overwintering in the burrow in the form of a pupa, in order to hatch into the light upon the arrival of spring.
For each larva, the uterus forms a separate burrow. Usually black individuals do not produce large nests. But wasps do not fly alone, if this happens, then single black predators are called universal. Such individuals feed on bugs and poisonous spiders.They are very strong and hardy.
Description
The hummingbird-like insect has a rather unusual appearance. The proboscis of an adult is well developed. The forewings are gray or gray-brown. On top of the main color there are two bands of deep black color. The outer edge of the forewings is solid. The hindwings are orange, with a narrow dark border. The head is round. The abdomen has a wide, albeit rather flat, hair brush at the end. At the end of the body there is an almost straight horn of a pale blue color with a brown ending.
The most common types:
- Wine.
- Euphorbiaceous.
- Poplar.
- Dead Head.
Most of them are bright and unusual in color.
The danger of the black wasp
The black wasp is beneficial in the garden, but it can harm a person if it bites him. Usually, the bites are not fatal and the swelling subsides after 3-4 days, but if there is an individual intolerance, this greatly complicates the situation. In this case, a person may die if he is not provided with medical assistance in time.
The pompilid bite is painful as a red ant bite.
Immediately after an insect attack, it is necessary:
- Disinfect the wound with peroxide, manganese.
- Apply cold to stop the penetration of toxins.
- Take an antihistamine to relieve swelling and redness.
- Drink tea, water, Rehydron solution. A large amount of liquid will speed up the elimination of toxins.
Usually, an insect bite causes redness and burning at the site of entry. Pain and swelling can be of varying intensity, depending on the individual characteristics of the victim's body.
You should be wary if, after a bite, the edema goes beyond the penetration zone, the body temperature rises, shortness of breath appears, difficulty breathing, blood pressure drops. All these symptoms indicate an intolerance to the poison.
In this case, it is necessary to take an antihistamine and call an ambulance. It is especially dangerous if a wasp has bitten a child or a pregnant woman. In this case, anaphylactic shock can be fatal.
No less dangerous is a bite in the mouth, tongue, face, neck. Severe swelling provokes choking, which also requires medical attention.
Preventive measures
Experts say that black wasps are not just so active in eating nectar. In fact, they are very addicted to the sweet tooth. If people approach prevention correctly, then it is likely that these insects will never want to occupy their site. First of all, it is necessary to abandon the folding of spoiled food and fruits in one specific place. If they go through the stage of decay there, then soon they will definitely attract the attention of black wasps. Moreover, in this particular case, they will not be the only harmful insects that wish to attend such a generous "feast". In such a situation, people will have to look for a lot of ways and means in order to fully cleanse their territory from the most diverse parasites present on it.
The aroma of flowering plants attracts black wasps very well. This primarily applies to flowers. That is why it is better to limit yourself in terms of planting flowering plants in the immediate vicinity of a residential building. It should be understood that the black wasp is a rather serious opponent for humans. It is possible to achieve a positive result in the fight against these insects only through preliminary preparation. Modern preventive measures provide for thinking through the most effective means and methods of protection. Otherwise, people may suffer from black wasp bites.There is even no doubt that absolutely any person will remember this very painful event for the rest of his life.
How to get rid of
Wasp sting is most dangerous for children and individuals with individual intolerance. If the insect nest is located close to the dwelling, then it is better to get rid of it. This can be done both with the help of chemicals and using a mechanical method of struggle.
Chemical fight
Most often, chemicals can be found in the form of an aerosol. The concentrated insecticide does not poison the ground and is practically safe for people.
Most popular:
- Mosquito. Spray must be strictly in open space. If you need to spray the hole, then the dose is reduced by 2-3 times.
- Gett. A powerful, odorless drug. It has a long-lasting effect, as it remains active for 5-6 months after spraying.
Karbofos and Troapsil are no less popular.
Physical methods
The nest should be removed from the estate in a protective suit or after pretreating the place with chemicals. If the nest is located in the ground, then you can dig up the area and pour boiling water over it.
When it is necessary to lure out adults, sweet traps are used. They are made from a plastic bottle and compote or fruit drink. The bottle is cut in half and the top is placed with the neck down in the bottom, where the sweet liquid is poured.
Unwanted guests
Although hornets are not particularly aggressive towards humans, like giant wasps, their neighborhood is not particularly pleasant. When insects breed, they can cause inconvenience, sting and harm to health.
It is relatively safe to destroy a hornet nest only at the beginning of its construction, in spring, or in winter, when all inhabitants die. It can be located in deserted hives, in the attic... Honeycombs are molded horizontally, the house resembles a paper house.
The easiest, most affordable and safest way to get rid of Hymenoptera is with traps. You can buy them in the store or make your own. Attracted by the bait, insects are taken into the trap, but the special design does not allow them to get out.
Benefit or harm
In human economic activity, cuckoo wasps are of great benefit, because insects are engaged in pollination of plants. In addition, they take part in the food chain, influencing the prosperity of various species of animals and plants. These predators eat many pests of agricultural crops, which include caterpillars.
Despite the fact that the sting of the lustre contains a very small amount of a poisonous substance that does not bring any harm to humans, for some people such a bite can be quite dangerous, causing a severe allergic reaction and the formation of edema.
In case of a bite, you need to give one injection of diphenhydramine so that the wasp venom dissolves in a short period of time. In addition, the victim needs rest, constant warming of all extremities, as well as an abundant hot drink. In this situation, you must definitely consult a doctor.
Meaning for a person.
Blue mud wasps often make their nests in buildings and therefore cause some inconvenience with their presence. But their harmless habits and the use of spiders for breeding, as a rule, compensate for their habitation in buildings. Therefore, you should not destroy blue mud wasps, if they have settled in your home, they are useful and feed their offspring with spiders that can be poisonous. If a blue mud wasp has entered your home, try carefully covering it with a can and then letting it out. This type of wasp controls the number of karakurt spiders, which are especially dangerous.
Behavior
Dangerous and harmless insects have different patterns of behavior, by which they can be easily distinguished by an observant person. These features of sirfids are noted even in the names of flies in different languages:
- Russian - hoverfly: for a specific sound in flight;
- English, German, Dutch - soaring flies: for the ability to hover in the air;
- Swedish, Finnish - flower flies: for feeding on plants;
- Czech - variegated / osenki: per color;
- Slovak - fluttering: for hovering in the air.
Interesting!
The scientific name comes from the Greek "syrphos", that is, "animal, mosquito."
Megalopyge opercularis
This seemingly cute, but rather dangerous caterpillar also has a beautiful specific name for the Coquette Moli. In the fur of the fluffy caterpillar, numerous spikes containing poison are hidden.
When in contact with the human body, fragile thorns break and get stuck in the body, but the most dangerous thing is that poison is released at this moment.
The poison of this rather exotic-looking insect is toxic, and causes burning and painful sensations. Vomiting and dizziness are also noted among the symptoms. The most dangerous thing is that the lymph nodes are affected, which can lead to respiratory arrest.
Popularly, this animal is often called "caterpillar Dunald Trump" because of the external resemblance to his hairstyle.
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