Pollen wasp
Pseudomasaris edwardsii

Eastern Washington

Pollen wasps, also known as masarid wasps, look like yellowjackets but live much differently. While yellowjackets have nests of thousands and scavenge meat and sweets to feed their young -- like what we might bring on a picnic -- pollen wasps lead solitary lives, gathering pollen and nectar from flowers to feed their offspring. Behavior aside, the clubbed antennae on pollen wasps and other details distinguish them from yellowjackets.

Masarid wasps are also sensitive, their fate tied to very specific plants to gather pollen to provision their larvae. At least one species rely on penstemons, while Pseudomasaris edwardsii appears to favor plants of the waterleaf family or Hydrophphylaceae-- and in Washington has been observed foraging on a member of this family that loves hot, arid places, silverleaf phacelia. Where their forage plants are scarce, pollen wasps can not live.

» Other Eastern Washington Wasps

Pollen wasp foraging on silverleaf phacelia

© Copyright 2004-2010 All rights reserved
A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.
» Interactive Washington map
» Washington State map