Why do we love bees but do we hate wasps?

According to research conducted by UCL, the lack of understanding of the important role of wasps in the ecosystem and the economy is a fundamental reason why they are universally despised, while bees are highly valued .

Bees and wasps are two of the most ecologically and economically important organisms. They both pollinate our flowers and crops, but wasps also regulate pest and insect populations that carry human diseases.

"It is clear that we have a very different emotional connection with wasps and bees – we have lived long in harmony with bees, domesticating some species, but the interactions between human wasps are often unpleasant as they destroy the Picnics and nest at home, "says study author Dr. Seirian Sumner (UCL Genetics, Evolution & Environment).

"Despite this, we need to actively revise the wasp's negative image to protect the ecological benefits they bring to our planet.They are facing a decline similar to bees and it's something that the world can not afford. "

For the study, published today in Ecological Entomology and funded by the Natural Environment Research Council and the European Commission through the Marie Curie Fellowship, 748 members of the public from 46 countries were surveyed (70% of respondents were from the UK) about their perceptions of insects, including bees and wasps.

The answers revealed that the public does not like wasps and that this is probably due to a low interest in nature and a lack of knowledge about the benefits that wasps bring to the health and functions of our planet. .

The degree of research done to better understand these poorly understood creatures has also been studied. The team found that wasps are an unpopular choice of insects that researchers can study, which probably worsens their negative image as little effort is made to understand and communicate their positive role in the ecosystem.

Scientists have discovered this by quantifying the number of scientific research papers and conference presentations on bees and wasps over the past 37 and 16 years, respectively.

Of the 908 items sampled, only 2.4% (22 articles) of wasp publications have been found since 1980, compared with 97.6% (886 articles) of bee publications.

Of the 2,543 conference abstracts on bees or wasps in the last 20 years, 81.3% involved bees.

Our dislike for wasps is largely shaped by a small number of social wasp species – yellow wasps and hornets – which make up less than 1% of biting wasps but are most likely to be infected. get in touch with humans. There are 67 species of social wasps, but the vast majority of wasps, more than 75,000 species, are solitary.

The uncomfortable nature of social wasps fuels the perception that wasps are more dangerous than bees, although each one causes such a painful sting.

The survey participants were asked to provide three words to describe bees, butterflies, wasps and flies, and to classify how each insect made them feel regardless of their importance in ecosystems and the 39; environment.

The analysis showed that butterflies receive the highest level of positive emotion, followed closely by bees, then flies and wasps. Overall, bees are more popular than butterflies. The researchers also found that personal interest in nature explained whether people understood the importance of wasps as natural pest controllers and predators.

All insects are threatened by climate change and habitat loss. The team therefore asserts that maintaining the abundance and diversity of insects should be a priority.

"Global concern over pollinator decline has translated into phenomenal public interest and support from bees, which would be fantastic if it could be reflected on wasps, but it would require a complete cultural change." attitudes towards wasps ", co-author, Dr. Alessandro Cini (UCL and University of Florence).

"For scientists, the first step is to better appreciate the wasps and provide the necessary research on their economic and societal value, which will then help the public to understand the importance of wasps."

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More information:
Ecological Entomology (2018). DOI: 10.1111 / een.12676