The Fascinating World of Wasps in Jamaica 🐝🇯🇲

Jamaica is home to a diverse range of wasps, from powerful predators to crucial pollinators. While often feared, these insects play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance. Here are ten fascinating facts about Jamaican wasps that may surprise you!

1. The Caribbean Paper Wasp Is Native to Jamaica

The Caribbean Paper Wasp (Polistes crinitus) is commonly found across the island. These social wasps build open-comb nests under roofs, on trees, and even in urban spaces. Despite their fearsome reputation, they play an essential role in controlling pest populations.

A Caribbean Paper Wasp (Polistes crinitus) tending to its nest, carefully maintaining its hexagonal cells. These wasps help control pests in Jamaica’s ecosystem.

📝 Source: Wildlife Jamaica, 2019

2. The Jamaican Digger Wasp Hunts Spiders

The Jamaican Digger Wasp (Sphex jamaicensis) is known for its unique hunting method. It paralyzes spiders and buries them alive as food for its larvae. This solitary wasp is a fierce predator but is harmless to humans unless provoked.

A fierce Jamaican Digger Wasp dragging a paralyzed spider to its underground burrow. These wasps play an important role in managing spider populations.

📝 Source: BugGuide.Net

3. Mud Daubers Build Their Nests from Mud

Wasps from the Sceliphron genus, like Sceliphron assimilé, construct mud nests in sheltered locations. These wasps are known for their precision in crafting nest chambers, each containing a paralyzed spider for their developing larvae.

A Mud Dauber Wasp shaping a nest chamber with wet mud. These skilled architects create safe spaces to store food for their larvae.

📝 Source: Brockmann & Dawkins, 1978

4. Some Wasps Pollinate Coconut Trees

Wasps are not just predators—they can be pollinators too! Studies have shown that wasps, along with honeybees, help pollinate coconut trees (Cocos nucifera) in Jamaica, supporting fruit production.

A wasp collecting nectar from a coconut tree flower, carrying pollen on its legs. Wasps are lesser-known pollinators that contribute to coconut fruit production.

📝 Source: ResearchGate

5. The Keyhole Wasp Can Take Over Other Wasps’ Nests

The Keyhole Wasp (Pachodynerus nasidens) is known for its unusual nesting behavior. It sometimes repurposes old paper wasp nests instead of building its own. These wasps have even been found nesting in keyholes, giving them their name.

A Keyhole Wasp peeks out from its hidden nest inside a wooden door’s keyhole. These wasps often repurpose old spaces for shelter.

📝 Source: Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 2022

6. Night Wasps Exist in Jamaica

While most wasps are active during the day, some species in Jamaica, such as those from the Ophioninae subfamily, are nocturnal. They are often attracted to lights at night and play a role in controlling caterpillar populations.

A nocturnal wasp drawn to the glow of a porch light. Unlike most wasps, these species are active at night, helping to control caterpillar populations.

📝 Source: Wildlife Jamaica, 2020

7. Some Wasps Are Tiny Parasites

Jamaica is home to many parasitic wasps, such as those from the Ichneumonidae family. These tiny wasps lay their eggs inside other insects, particularly caterpillars, keeping pest populations in check.

A tiny parasitic wasp laying its eggs inside a caterpillar. These wasps naturally regulate pest populations by keeping caterpillars in check.

📝 Source: Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 2007

8. Some Jamaican Wasps Are Invasive

While most wasp species in Jamaica are native, some, like the European Paper Wasp (Polistes dominula), have been introduced and are competing with local species for resources.

A European Paper Wasp (Polistes dominula) and a Caribbean Paper Wasp side by side. Invasive wasps compete with native species for resources in Jamaica.

9. Wasps Have Impressive Memory Skills

Studies suggest that paper wasps can recognize individual faces of their colony members and remember past encounters, helping them maintain social order.

Close-up of two paper wasps with distinct facial markings. Studies show that wasps can recognize each other’s faces to maintain social order in their colonies.

10. Wasps Are Used for Pest Control

Farmers in Jamaica sometimes encourage wasp populations to naturally control insect pests, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.

A Jamaican farmer watches a wasp hunting an insect pest on a crop. Farmers sometimes encourage wasp populations as a natural form of pest control.

Final Thoughts

Wasps are more than just stinging insects; they are pollinators, pest controllers, and master architects that contribute to Jamaica’s biodiversity. The next time you spot one, take a moment to appreciate its role in the ecosystem!

Sources

• “Wasp and Bee Species.” Rentokil Pest Control Jamaica, Rentokil Initial, https://www.rentokil.com/jm/services/pest-control-services/wasps/species.

• Hanson, Paul E., and Ian D. Gauld. “Parasitoid Wasps from Three Jamaican Localities: A Pilot Study.” Journal of Hymenoptera Research, vol. 16, 2007, pp. 45–67, https://jhr.pensoft.net/article/1656/.

• “Polistes crinitus.” iNaturalist, https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/202229-Polistes-crinitus.

• Brockmann, H. Jane, and Charles J. Dawkins. “The Biology in Jamaica of the Adults of the Sphecid Wasp Sceliphron Assimile Dahlbom.” Ecological Entomology, vol. 3, no. 3, 1978, pp. 199–206, https://resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2311.1978.tb00901.x.

• “Sphex jamaicensis – Jamaican Digger Wasp.” BugGuide.Net, Iowa State University, https://bugguide.net/node/view/56796.

• “Nesting of the Keyhole Wasp Pachodynerus Nasidens (Latreille) on a Paper Wasp’s Nest in Jamaica.” Journal of Hymenoptera Research, vol. 91, 2022, pp. 187–192, https://jhr.pensoft.net/article/91298/.

• “Ophioninae (Night Wasp) Is a Subfamily of Ichneumonidae.” Wildlife Jamaica, Facebook, 15 May 2020, https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2047747012280115.

• “Pollination of Coconut (Cocos Nucifera L.) in Jamaica by Honeybees and Wasps.” ResearchGate, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/240431012_Pollination_of_coconut_Cocos_nucifera_L_in_Jamaica_by_honeybees_and_wasps.

• “Caribbean Paper Wasp (Polistes Crinitus).” Wildlife Jamaica, Facebook, 20 Aug. 2019, https://www.facebook.com/WildlifeJamaica/posts/caribbean-paper-wasp-polistes-crinitus-the-caribbean-paper-wasp-is-native-to-jam/1612038455850975/.

• “Sphex jamaicensis.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphex_jamaicensis