Wasps

Hymenoptera vary in the habitats used for resources. As adults, many species are predators, feed on 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 inhibit 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 visit the flowers of the larval host plants and are thought to be significant pollinators of these plants.

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