In this article, we will try to cover all aspects of the grass carrying wasps, their habitat, what they eat, how they reproduce, and more.
Flying insects that build nests can often be a nuisance to homeowners.
If you find a bug nest in a window frame made of dried grass, it might be the handiwork of a grass carrying wasp.
While these wasps aren’t very dangerous, having them buzz around or build nests in inconvenient spots can be a bit annoying.
Let’s find out more about this interesting wasp species and how to deal with it.
What Are Grass Carrying Wasps?
Grass carrying wasps get their name from the fact that they are often spotted flying around with blades of grass.
More specifically speaking, it’s the females that display this unusual behavior, using tall grass to build their nests.
They are a species of thread-waisted wasps (Sphecid wasps), growing up to a length of 0.75 inches with a shiny black body.
You might want to note that grass carrying wasps are a solitary insect species, which means they build small nests and live by themselves rather than living in a colony.
What Does A Grass Carrying Wasp Eat?
Like most wasps, adult grass carrying wasps primarily feed on nectar and pollen.
Among native plants, they are especially attracted to mountain mint, rattlesnake master, boneset, and goldenrod.
The females also prey on insects, especially tree crickets and katydids. However, they do not feed on these insects themselves.
They paralyze the prey and drag them into the nest, to serve as food for the newborn grass carrying wasp larvae when the eggs hatch.
Where Do Grass Carrying Wasps Live?
Contrary to most Sphecid wasps, grass carrying wasps do not burrow underground. Instead, they mostly use aboveground cavities like hollow stems to build their nests.
They might, however, use pre-existing holes in the ground for this purpose. They’re often found to build nests in suitable indoor spots too, especially in door and window tracks.
It’s easy to mistake a grass carrying wasp nest for a random lump of dry grass that made its way to your home with the wind.
The grass nests may either have several brood cells partitioned by blades of grass, or a single communal area where all the larvae stay, feed, and develop.
The Lifecycle of a Grass Carrying Wasp
The life cycle of a grass carrying wasp isn’t very different from that of other common solitary wasps.
They go through the four life cycle stages typical of insects – egg, wasp larva, pupa, and adult.
Eggs
These wasps produce only one generation a year, or two at most. The eggs are laid in the grass nests they build. Adult female grass carrying wasps provision their nests with paralyzed insects for the offspring.
Larvae
The larvae hatch in a few days and spend the next week or so feeding on the cached prey. They molt during this time, developing and growing in size.
Pupae
Once the larvae have exhausted the food stored in the nest, they spin a cocoon around themselves.
They overwinter in their cocoons, either in a pupal or pre-pupal state, depending on their stage of development at the time of cocooning.
The wasp resumes development in the spring, eventually ending the pupal stage and emerging as an adult wasp.
Adults
Grass carrying wasps spend most of the adult stage of their life cycle foraging for pollen and nectar.
The females begin constructing their nests soon after mating, which is when you’d find them carrying blades of grass.
Once the nest is ready, the adult female wasp will start hunting in high canopies in search of prey, which she paralyzes and carries to her nests.
She lays her eggs once the nest is well-stocked with food.
Do They Bite/Sting?
Grass carrying wasps aren’t much of a threat due to their non-aggressive nature. Despite being stinging wasps, they’d sting you only if you made them feel provoked or threatened.
Unlike social wasps, they live alone and don’t have a colony to defend.
This significantly lowers the chances of getting stung because you got too close to a grass carrying wasp nest.
Grass carrying wasps are comparable to digger wasps in this aspect. As long as you leave them alone, they will do the same for you.
Are They Poisonous/Venomous?
Being a parasitoid wasp species, grass carrying wasps carry paralyzing venom that they use to immobilize their prey.
Don’t get worried, though; the venom is too weak to have any effect on humans. Besides, they don’t use the venom on anyone besides their prey anyway.
Are They Harmful or Beneficial to Humans?
Despite the general notion that wasps are dangerous, most of them are beneficial insects. The grass carrying wasp is no exception either.
Firstly, grass carrying wasps are amazing pollinators. Farmers often lure them to their gardens or agricultural fields by providing nesting places.
Secondly, these black wasps also help control pest populations by hunting them down to provide food for their larvae.
What Are Grass Carrying Wasps Attracted To?
Since adult grass carrying wasps feed primarily on pollen and nectar, they are attracted to flowering plants. As mentioned earlier, they have a preference for certain flowers like goldenrod, mountain mint, boneset, etc.
You may also attract them to your garden by installing bee hotels or simply digging small holes where they can nest.
Removing Grass Carrying Wasps
There’s no need to get rid of grass carrying wasps unless the nest location is causing you inconvenience or puts you at risk of getting stung.
If you must remove grass carrying wasps from your property, simply removing the nest should usually be enough.
It warns the wasps that the spot is unsafe for nesting, prompting them to go elsewhere.
If they are persistent and keep returning, you may consider using a pesticide. However, stick to low-toxicity pesticides that are safe for residential use.
Interesting Facts About Grass Carrying Wasps
Before we conclude this article, here are some interesting tidbits about grass carrying wasps.
- Despite being capable of delivering a painful sting, these wasps are generally harmless to humans.
- Unlike most solitary species of wasps, grass carrying wasps don’t usually build their nests underground.
- These wasps are native to North America, which means there’s a good chance that you might come across them.
Wrapping up
Though social wasp species like paper wasps and yellow jacket wasps are feared due to their aggressive nature and painful stings, the grass carrying wasp is nowhere near as dangerous.
They are more like female digger wasps—harmless unless you bother them.
So, the next time you see a wasp carrying a blade of grass or tucking it into a hole, there’s no need to panic. Thank you for reading, and I hope you found this article helpful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are wasps flying around my grass
There could be various reasons why wasps are flying around your grass. One reason could be that there is a nest nearby, and the wasps are searching for food or gathering materials to build their nest.
Another reason could be that there are flowers or plants in your grass that are attracting the wasps.
Wasps are also attracted to sweet and sugary substances, so if there are any spilled drinks or food in the area, the wasps may be attracted to it.
It is important to be cautious around wasps as they can sting and cause allergic reactions in some people. It is best to avoid disturbing any nests and to keep food and drinks covered when outside.
What are some fun facts about common wasps?
Common wasps, also known as yellow jackets, are one of the most aggressive species of wasps.
They are known for their painful stings, which can be life-threatening to people who are allergic to their venom. However, there are some fascinating facts about these insects.
For example, yellow jackets are social insects that live in large colonies. The queen wasp is the only one who lays eggs, and the other members of the colony are responsible for feeding and protecting the queen and her offspring.
Yellow jackets are also known for their love of sweets, and they are often seen buzzing around picnic tables and garbage cans in search of sugary treats.
Interestingly, yellow jackets are not always yellow; some species have black and white markings, while others have red and black stripes.
What do wasps fly around looking for?
Wasps fly around looking for food and nesting material. They are carnivorous insects and feed on other insects, spiders, and some sugary substances like nectar and fruit juices. In the late summer months, wasps become more aggressive in their search for food, as they need to stockpile enough food to survive the winter. Wasps also fly around looking for suitable places to build their nests. They prefer sheltered areas such as under eaves, in attics or sheds, or in trees and bushes. Once they find a suitable spot, they will start building their nests using materials like chewed-up wood fibers, mud, and saliva.
What is the meaning of wasp nest?
A wasp nest is a structure created by social wasps to house their colony. It is typically made of a paper-like material that the wasps create by chewing wood and mixing it with saliva. The shape and size of the nest can vary depending on the species of wasp, but they are usually round or oval and have a small entrance hole. Wasp nests can be found in a variety of locations such as trees, bushes, eaves of buildings, and underground. While wasp nests can be fascinating to observe, it’s important to exercise caution as wasps can be aggressive and their stings can be painful or even deadly for those who are allergic.
Reader Emails
Grass-carrying wasps are quite abundant in the United States. And cleaning up their cocoons from window sills is one reason why many of us become immediately aware of them.
Over the years, we have gotten many questions from our readers asking to learn more about these creatures. Please go through a selection of these mails below.
Letter 1 – Nest of a Grass Carrying Wasp
Subject: bug and nest material Location: Rochester, New York August 7, 2012 1:50 pm Hi. I keep getting bugs of some kind nesting between wood casement windows and the jambs…a teeny tight space. Sometimes I find clumps of dry grass, other times little dried mud tubes(maybe a different species). I’m amazed they can squeeze in there and can’t figure out what the attraction is. They aren’t damaging the wood, but messy when I open a window that’s been closed for months, and the stuff falls into the room. In today’s cleaning I found actual bugs (a brighter green than the photo shows). Thank you! Signature: Hiawatha
Letter 2 – Grass Carrying Wasp Nest
Subject: Found these guys nesting in our window… Location: Fort Mill, SC September 22, 2012 12:05 pm Hello! I am writing because I am really hoping you can help me figure out what on Earth these guys are. Last week I was measuring for a fire ladder and accidentally dropped the screen out of the window. I was showered with insect parts and nesting material. On top of the screen there was a straight line of these guys, and I am at a loss as to what they are. Each cocoon was about an inch long. Hoping you can shed some light on the situation! Signature: Thank you so much, Ashli Welsh
Letter 3 – Grass Carrying Wasp Nest
Subject: Green insect Location: New Jersey July 4, 2016 5:15 am I have some type of insect nesting in my house window tracks. Have been seeing them for four years. This is the first time we have seen the actual insect. Signature: Paula
Letter 4 – Bug of the Month May 2017: Grass Carrying Wasps found in Home
Subject: Is this an ichneumon wasp? Location: Austin, TX April 30, 2017 8:49 am What is this bug? Finding them inside the house this spring trying to get out…hanging around the windows…do they sting/bite? Any house structure damage concerns? Signature: Stephen
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