Wasps

Hymenoptera vary in the habitats used for resources. As adults, many species are predators, feed at flowers for pollen and nectar, or use a combination of these resources. During the larval stages, some species are parasites, or pests of plants.

There are a few species of ants (Formicidae) that are known to pollinate plants. Around the world there are ~ 20 spp. of ants known to aid in pollination. Some research has suggested that the antibacterial products produced by an ant colony for protection from microbes inhibits pollen germination on the stigma of a plant.

Adult sawflies (suborder Symphyta) of some species prey on other insects, while others use nectar, pollen, flower petals, or leaves as food; many are known to visit flowers of Asteraceae, Ranunculus, Salix, and Rubus. Adults of the family Tenthredinidae prey on insects visiting flowers and are known to pollinate those plants while hunting. Sawfly larvae feed on plants and adults often will visit the flowers of the larval host plants and are thought to be significant pollinators of these plants.

Tenthredinidae genera often found on flowering plants and their adult / larval food (click on names in table to view images if available):

Adult wasps in the families Sphecidae and Vespidae are usually predaceous, using most prey to provision the nests containing their offspring. As adults, they may use nectar and pollen for food and may sometimes pollinate as a result of their feeding. Masarinae, a subfamily of Vespidae, have been found to provision their nests with nectar and pollen from plants in the genera Phacelia, Hydrophyllum, and Eriodictyon. Adult Pompilidae visit flowers for nectar and provision their nests with spiders. Certain species within this family indirectly collect milkweed pollen on their spiny legs and may be important pollinators of those plants.

Wasp families and genera common on flowering plants and their sociality, nest sites, and prey items for offspring (click on insect names in table to view images if available):