Mexican Honey Wasps
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ENTO-044 5-15 Mexican Honey Wasps Molly Keck Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Program Specialist, The Texas A&M University System Mexican honey wasps, Brachygastra mellifica, are social Mexican honey wasps have stingers and will use them— insects that build paper nests in the canopies of trees and especially if the nest is threatened. Nests that are high in shrubs. They are endemic to many parts of Texas and range trees are usually of no concern to humans unless the nest from Texas to Nicaragua. There are 16 different species of is disturbed by activities such as trimming tree branches Mexican honey wasps; however, only one species has been around the nest or spraying the nest with a water hose. In reported in Texas. the Rio Grande Valley, Mexican Honey wasp nests in citrus Mexican honey wasps have a dark colored thorax and groves need to be removed during harvest time for farm head and the abdomen has yellow and dark bands. They are worker’s safety. 1/4 to 1/3 of an inch long and are one of the few insects, other Pest management professionals can remove Mexican than honey bees, that produce and store honey. Colonies honey wasps safely. Homeowners should not attempt to can become large, containing up to 18,000 wasps. remove a Mexican honey wasp nest unless they have some Mexican honey wasps, much like honey bees, are consid- experience with bees and wasps and protective equipment ered beneficial insects. They are nectar gatherers, pollina- such as a good bee suit. A properly fitted and well main- tors, and have been known to feed upon harmful insects tained suit is important as Mexican honey wasps can sting such as the Asian citrus psyllid which causes greening in through bee suits that are too tight. They can also enter citrus. The honey and larvae of the Mexican honey wasp through tears and loose openings in a bee suit that honey- are documented as a delicacy consumed by the Popolocas bees cannot. people of Los Reyes Metzontla, Mexico. Remove nests that are close to the ground, around Mexican honey wasps can cause concern when home- schools or daycares, and other areas where children, work- owners spot their large basketball- or football-shaped nests ers or others may come in close contact with them. Nests attached to the branches of trees. However, the Mexican in tree canopies that are away from human interaction can honey wasp is nonaggressive when left undisturbed. Nests often be left and will usually go unnoticed. are noticed most often when deciduous trees lose their leaves. Acknowledgements Thanks to Wizzie Brown, Danielle Sekula-Ortiz, and Raul Villanueva for review of this manuscript. Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard New to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status..