Why do we need wasps: what is the use of them in nature and for humans, do plants pollinate

Striped black and yellow insects are known to everyone. They can be seen in the summer busy collecting pollen and nectar. Like any other living creatures, wasps occupy their niche in nature, play a certain role in it. Consider why wasps are needed in nature, what benefits they bring, whether they are dangerous to humans. How wasp venom is used in medicine, what will happen if these insects suddenly disappear.

What role do wasps play in the ecosystem, and what is contained in their venom

Insects play an important role in nature. First of all, they pollinate plants, including agricultural ones, thereby contributing to the formation of ovaries and increasing yields.Wasps eat not only nectar, they are predators in the world of insects, they control the number of pests, such as caterpillars and aphids, using them as food for their larvae.

In addition to beneficial effects, wasps also bring harm. They spoil ripe fruits, gnawing holes in them, and can destroy beneficial insects, such as bees.

Influence on a person

If a wasp circles over a person, it means that she smells a floral or honey scent that attracts her. She has no desire to intentionally bite. Therefore, it is not worth driving it away. She may regard this as an attack and will definitely sting. You just need to not move or make sudden movements. After a while, the insect will fly away.

The wasp sting is smooth, without notches, it does not remain in the place of the bite. The insect does not die and is able to sting many times. If the attacking wasp is not alone, there are others nearby, they can join it and attack the person together.

Aspen venom is a known allergen, inflammation, redness, and swelling always develop at the site of contact. The temperature rises in the skin, the bite site begins to hurt and itch. An allergic reaction can vary in strength, depending on the person's immune system. Most tolerate the bite quite well, the symptoms soon disappear, and there is no trace of the bite. But the poison can also become fatal if measures are not taken in time to neutralize the poison. Even after one bite, a person can die. Multiple bites are even more dangerous.

Waspen venom contains substances that cause the immune system to respond.

Acetylcholine is involved in the conduction of nerve impulses, but at high concentrations it can disrupt the normal functioning of nerve fibers, temporarily paralyze them. Histamine-containing substances provoke the development of allergies, irritation and swelling at the site of the bite.May provoke fever, a strong reaction ends with Quincke's edema. The phospholipase enzyme destroys cell walls, which provokes the development of a painful symptom. The toxin hyaluronidase has a similar effect.

Wasps in medicine

Up to half of the volume of the poison falls on melitin and other polypeptides, which determine its usefulness as a medicinal raw material. Melitin has a hemolytic effect, the ability to reduce inflammation, kill bacteria and viruses, including hepatitis B and C.

The antibacterial action of a substance is based on the ability to disrupt pathogen cell membranes.

Studies have shown that melitin can be used to treat tumors, protects he althy cells of the patient from the effects of radiation during radiotherapy.Poison benefits: increases hemoglobin, reduces blood viscosity, cholesterol levels. Increases blood flow to the diseased organ, dilates blood vessels. It has analgesic properties, improves general tone, improves appetite and sleep, increases efficiency.

The aftermath of the disappearance

Bees and wasps are being destroyed, especially in recent years, by pesticides used in fields and gardens, insects are dying from the effects of climate change and the destruction of their natural habitat.

Already now, the decrease in the number of insects is affecting the ecosystem. If the wasps ever disappear, the yield of plants will decrease, they will suffer from pests more often. Humans and animals will not get enough food, which will lead to a reduction in biodiversity.

Wasps, whose life we notice little, despite their small size, bring a lot of benefits to nature, animals, plants and humans. Their main role is to pollinate plants, which in turn will produce fruits and seeds. And also protect them from pests, also increasing productivity. Wasps, like bees, occupy an important place in nature, reducing their number will lead to a noticeable change in a balanced ecosystem.

Recommended