When did wasps first appear in the fossil record?
The fossil record shows wasps first appearing in the Jurassic period, long before humans walked the earth. These ancient insects diversified into many surviving superfamilies by the Cretaceous epoch.
Questions about Wasp
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What is the scientific classification of a wasp compared to bees and ants?
The term wasp describes any insect of the narrow-waisted suborder Apocrita that is neither a bee nor an ant. This classification excludes broad-waisted sawflies even though they look somewhat like wasps.
How do social wasps construct their nests using plant fiber and saliva?
These social wasps belong to the family Vespidae and construct paper nests using plant fiber mixed with saliva. Wood fibers come from weathered wood softened by chewing.
Which year did Encarsia formosa enter commercial use in Europe for whitefly control?
Encarsia formosa entered commercial use in Europe during the 1920s to control whitefly populations. Chemical pesticides overtook this method in the 1940s before interest returned in the 1970s.
Who wrote the comedy play Sphēkes featuring old jurors as a chorus called wasps?
Ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes wrote comedy play Sphēkes first performed in 422 BC featuring old jurors as a chorus called wasps.