5 minute read
Kids Ask Dr. Bug
about the curious things found in the garden
Recently, I met with MO Hives’ Nature Action Crew. MO Hives KC (www.mohives.org) educates and involves urban residents in the creation, preservation, and expansion of pollinator habitats in the Kansas City Metro Area. The Nature Action Crew asked fantastic questions, some of which are answered below.
Do wasps have queens?
Wasps that are eusocial have a queen. “Eusocial” is a scientific term that describes how some insect species live together. Most insect species are not eusocial. Rather, they are solitary, meaning they do not live with other insects of their same species – once the egg is laid, the insect is on its own. Eusocial species are very different. For eusocial wasps, there is a queen who lays eggs, and workers who take care of the eggs, take care of the nest, and bring in food and resources. Most wasps are solitary, rather than eusocial. However, most of the examples of eusocial insects are wasps (such as paper wasps and yellowjackets) and bees (such as honey bees and bumble bees), and they all have queens.
What makes a species a species, and how can you tell what insects are different species?
This seems like it should be an easy question, but it is not! What exactly makes one species different from another can be tricky. To define a species, scientists have used physical characteristics, such as shape, coloration, ecological niche, mouthparts, and reproductive compatibility resulting in fertile offspring. Plants and large animals are easier to figure out, but there are insects that look the same that can be different species. So, scientists also look at hair placement, behavior, and DNA sequences. Other organisms, like fungi and protists, are even more complicated when it comes to deciding what a species is. Scientists have described over 1 ½ million different species of insects! That is more than half of the known species on the planet!
European hornet visiting a flower. Image by Christel Sagniez from Pixabay.
Do wasps pollinate plants and crops?
Yes! Wasps are primarily predators, eating spiders, insects, and other arthropods, or capturing these critters for their offspring. But, pollen and nectar are also a great source of energy for many wasp species, so they will also visit flowers. Because wasps are not as hairy as bees, they are not as effective as bees as pollinators, but wasps can transfer pollen from one flower to another and thereby pollinate flowers.
Why do male bees get kicked out of the hives as the colony heads into winter?
Male honey bees, called drones, do not feed themselves or contribute to the well-being of the hive they are born into. They don’t protect their nestmates, do any of the cleaning, or forage for food for the colony. Their entire role is to potentially mate with a young queen of another colony. Hives located in climates with cold seasons start preparing for winter in the fall. The workers make sure all the cracks are sealed and enough food is stored to make it through the cold season. There isn’t extra food for freeloaders, so males are removed from the hive.
In warmer climates without winter, are male bees allowed to stay in the hive?
Even without winter, there are weather and plant patterns that can affect honey bee colony cycles. These can include seasonal changes in flowers and how much pollen and nectar is available, as well as seasons that are drier or wetter than others. Also, honey bee colonies change in size as they begin as a new colony and grow to become an established colony. If a colony is low on resources, the workers will start to protect what they have, and this may include kicking out males – this saves resources for the queen and the workers, as well as the new offspring.
Do you have questions about bugs found in your garden for Dr. Bug? Send them to ReallT@ Missouri.edu or bit.ly/KidsAskDrBug. Include your name and age. To help me learn what you learn from this monthly column, would you please consider filling out this survey: bit.ly/KidsAskDrBugSurvey. Thank you!
TAMRA REALL Horticulture Specialist
Tamra Reall (@MUExtBugNGarden) is a horticulture specialist for MU Extension – Urban West Region. For free, research-based gardening tips, call 816-833-TREE (8733), email mggkc.hotline@gmail.com, or visit extension.missouri.edu.
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Meet us at one of these locations this fall in the KC area. Give us your order by Tuesday before a sale, or shop from our selection at the sale.
Backyard Bird Center 816-746-1113. 6212 NW Barry Road, KC MO 64154. Platte Land Trust Native Plant Sale. September 10, 10 am - 12 noon Anita B. Gorman Cons. Discovery Center. 4750 Troost Ave. KC MO 64110. Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale www.moprairie.org. September 17, 10 am - 2 pm Anita B. Gorman Cons. Discovery Center. 4750 Troost Ave. KC MO 64110. Deep Roots Native Plant Sale deeproots.org. September 24, 10 am - 2 pm Shawnee Indian Mission. 3403 West 53rd St, Fairway KS 66205 Shawnee Indian Mission Native Plant Sale. Info: shawneeindianmission.org. October 1, 9 am - 1 pm
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