“WASPS: Their Biology, Diversity, and Role as Beneficial Insects & Pollinators of Native Plants”, hosted by Wild Ones, Native Plants, Natural Landscapes on October 20th is available to watch on the Wild Ones YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTfowlGStcA.
Wild Ones Honorary Director Heather Holm shares from her new book, “WASPS,” which features approximately 150 species of flower-visiting wasps that occur in eastern North America, and the specific native plants and habitat each species depends upon.
“WASPS” delves into how beneficial wasps are to humans, mainly insect pest population control and pollination. “This complex web of many wasp-prey and wasp-plant interactions helps ensure ecosystems remain resilient, diverse and balanced,” Holm writes. “If all wasps were to disappear, it would have a catastrophic effect on several trophic levels of the food web.”
Heather Holm is a biologist, pollinator conservationist, and award-winning author. In addition to assisting with native bee research projects, she informs and educates audiences nationwide, through her writing and many presentations, about the fascinating world of native pollinators and beneficial insects, and the native plant communities that support them.
Check out www.PollinatorsNativePlants.com for more information on pollinators from Heather including her Native Plant Lists for Wasps. You can also see Heather’s observations on iNaturalist at https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?user_id=heatherholm.