Great Black Wasps in the U.S.: A Practical Guide for Homeowners

Have you seen a big jet-black insect flying around your garden recently? If yes, you have probably seen the great black wasp. The species of solitary wasps are common across the United States, and despite the fact that they have a very scary appearance, they are surprisingly good for homeowners and gardeners. In this article, we will discuss the great black wasp, its attributes, the great black wasp lifespan, whether or not the great black wasp stings, and also some safe and efficient ways to get rid of great black wasps.

What is the Great Black Wasp?

The great black wasp is the species of the Sphex pensylvanicus that is the largest among those found in the whole of North America. Males and females are similar in length, with the former being slightly smaller. The great black wasp is a solid black color without any stripes or spots, just like its other black relatives. Its wings had a noticeable blue-black shine, and its body was smooth and dull. These wasps are typically spotted flying around the flowers in open areas during hot weather, especially from July to September.

Great Black Wasp Lifespan and Life Cycle

Knowing the great black wasp lifespan and the factors affecting it can allow you to understand their periodical appearance. The great black wasp lifespan begins with the female wasp making a tent to set her nest in perfectly dried soil, and then she keeps digging narrow paths here and there besides those chambers. She also paralyzes her prey, which is normally grasshoppers or katydids, and puts them in each chamber so that they can be food when she lays an egg there. The caterpillar hatches, thus continually feeds on the paralysed prey, and thereby it grows faster over days or weeks. The caterpillar then makes a cocoon and undergoes the process of transformation until it gets to the next life stage. The time of the metamorphosis will be a few weeks, and after that, the adult will come out to begin the cycle again. Most great black wasps can go through their life cycle within just one season, with the adults living a couple of weeks during which they mostly concentrate on procreation and hunting for nectar and pollen.

Do Great Black Wasps Sting?

One of the questions people most often ask is: do great black wasps sting? It is a positive answer, however, with certain clarifications. Female great black wasps only have a stinger. These wasps are not harmful to people. Hence, they do not defend their colonies or swarm like yellowjackets. Great black wasps are frugal with their stings, and they will sting you only in case you directly threaten or handle them. For the Great majority of people, great black wasp sting is just painful and not dangerous, and only brings redness, swelling, or itching in a place of it On the other hand, if a person is allergic to the wasp's sting, he/she should immediately go to the doctor for treatment in case of a sting.

How to Get Rid of Great Black Wasps

There are many options on how to effectively and at the same time not harm the environment, get rid of great black wasps in case their nest was built too close to your place of residence.

• Soap and Water Solution: Mix liquid dish soap with water in a spray bottle (a few drops of dish soap per 1 liter of water) and spray directly onto the nest. The soap dissolves the wasp’s cuticle, thus it suffocates and dies.
  
  
• Essential Oils: The application of the solution, which is a mixture of peppermint oil, eucalyptus, or clove diluted in water, through the spraying around the nesting places will do the job of the natural repellent for the great black wasps.
  
  
• Wasp Baits and Traps: Wasp baits and traps are devices that attract and then eliminate the wasps, so it is necessary to set them in a place, where to be sure that children and pets will not get into.
  
  
• Residual Insecticides: In the case of a deep-seated problem, follow label instructions and spray a long-lasting insecticide on the spots where the wasps usually land, or places where they make the nest most frequently.

Conclusion

The great black wasp is venomous-looking, but as a matter of fact, it is a lonely, gentle insect that performs a very important function in the chain of life of the garden. The issue of how long the great black wasp lives, whether great black wasps sting, and safe solutions to get rid of great black wasps - these are the things that homeowners need to be clear about to decide wisely how they want to manage these useful insects. In case the wasps become bothersome, there are natural and professional interventions. However, if it is possible, think of the great black wasp as your co-worker who is not only a pollinator but also a natural pest controller in your garden.

You can even enjoy an improved outdoor space and be at peace in your home by being great black wasp-friendly.