▲Wasps, like bees, have nests. One thing that will make a wasp sting you is going too near its nest. It is a protective mechanism to protect the species and is not that surprising. You wouldn't like it if some monster came near your home!

▲There is a general belief that wasps serve no purpose in the world, that they are just a less cute version of a bee that stings more. Well, wasps are actually invaluable to our ecosystem and many of the rumors about them aren’t true.

▲The wasps who are left behind are very hungry because there is less food at the end of the summer. In addition, their nestmates are dying, which stresses and confuses them.

▲Let’s first clear up one of the biggest myths about wasps, that they are naturally aggressive. They are not. They only sting under certain circumstances.

▲Most wasps eat bugs such as greenflies and caterpillars. They're not after humans or our pets, clearly.

▲When they are hungry and confused, they are more likely to sting when humans try and swat them. Wasps are not naturally aggressive–it is only when you try to kill them that they do become hostile.

▲There are two huge benefits to using wasps. Firstly, they can take the place of nasty chemicals that are usually sprayed on vegetables to kill little beasties that munch on them.

▲They are absolutely crucial to the environment because they work as natural pest controllers. If you want to buy organic, then you should really support wasps too.

▲Indeed, with the rise of organic produce, more and more farmers are trying to bring wasps in to keep the insect population on farms low.

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Most people are stung in late summer because this is when the wasps are preparing to hibernate. In this period, a lot of the wasps die and there is no more breeding.

▲Secondly, pesticides are terrible for the environment. While they kill the pests, they also contaminate the surrounding earth and water. This means that many other animals are killed, such as birds, fish, and microorganisms.

▲When smaller pests are killed by chemicals, the whole food chain is disrupted. Their bodies are not turned into nutrients by being food for any other animal, so they die without utility.

▲Long-term consumption of pesticides can also cause long-term effects that are much more serious. These include reproductive, neurological, and developmental problems, birth defects, and cancer.

▲Wasps are also protecting humans from disease. They kill pests that spread human diseases such as spiders, mosquitoes, and flies.

▲The toxin, Polybia-MP1, found in the wasp’s venom, has the ability to destroy cancer cells while leaving normal cells alone. Researchers are excited about the implications of it in cancer research.

▲Many people believe that wasps are not pollinators like bees are. However, they most certainly are. In fact, researchers have found that they are the exclusive pollinators of some species of orchid.

▲As she lays her eggs, the pollen on her body fertilizes the fig so that the seeds can turn into saplings. The eggs turn into larvae and soon fly away from the fig. The fig seeds can now turn into a tree. The baby wasps have pollen on them so they can go fertilize more figs.

▲The fig tree fully relies on wasps to reproduce because their flowers are on the inside. The female wasp buries herself in a male fig (yes, there are female and male figs). She lays her eggs in the female part of the reproductive plant system.

▲When humans don’t wash their vegetables well, we ingest the pesticides. In the short term, they can cause dizziness, rashes, and the like.

▲The most impressive mechanism that wasps have for pollinating is what they do with the fig tree. You may have noticed that wasps love figs, but this is not just because they have a sweet tooth.

▲Wasp nests are amazing structures. They are similar to beehives but instead are made out of a flakey wooden material. This is created by the queen wasp chewing on wood and regurgitating it.

▲There are two types of varieties of wasps and over 30,000 species. Social wasps use their sting to defend themselves. Solitary wasps use their sting as a weapon for hunting food.

▲If the female wasp accidentally burrows inside a female fig she still pollinates it, however, she does not lay her eggs. The wasp dies and the fig produces enzymes that completely absorb the body of the wasp. So don’t worry, your tongue won’t be stung.

▲Every wasp has a very unique facial pattern. They recognize each other because of the patterns on their faces.

▲Sadly, wasps are dying out as fast as bees are because of humans. The extinction of wasps would have deleterious effects on the environment.

▲Don’t kill them! When wasps land on your skin, it is usually just to smell you. If you leave them, they will fly away.

▲Only the female wasp has a stinger. It is actually her egg-laying organ that doubles as a stinger to protect the next generation of wasps. What an amazing defense mechanism!

▲Researchers have found that wasps are capable of using logic. They can be given two different pieces of information and use them to draw a conclusion. They are the only invertebrate so far that scientists believe use logical deduction.

▲If you find a nest in your garden, do not just gas it out. Wait for the queen wasp to leave then fill it with soil. This way she can make another nest somewhere else and another queen won’t fill that particular nest.

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To stop harming them, use fewer insecticides and pesticides in your garden. Also, try and buy organic fruit and vegetables.

Sources: (BBC) (Canadian Wildlife Federation) ( ThoughtCo.)

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There is now a lot of research going into a specific species of wasp named the Polybia paulista. It contains a very special kind of venom.

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Sadly, wasps have a very bad reputation. Their sting is painful and they are pesky in the summer. But while they may bother you while you are eating, swatting them is not the way to go. They are the secret saviors of organic agriculture because they act as natural pest killers. In addition, they protect the human race from nasty diseases that are transmitted by other insects. One species is even being used to help fight cancer! Most importantly, they are crucial pollinators. If you are sad about the bees dying, then you should be equally scared by the diminishing wasp population.

In this gallery, you will learn why wasps are unexpendable to human existence and how you can deal with them safely. Click through to learn more.

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In this gallery, you will learn why wasps are unexpendable to human existence and how you can deal with them safely. Click through to learn more.