Wasps | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/wasps-1/RSS feed for WaspsenTue, 05 Aug 2025 17:21:26 +0000Officials Discover Radioactive Wasp Nests at Facility That Once Produced Parts of Nuclear Weapons in South Carolinahttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/officials-discover-radioactive-wasp-nests-at-facility-that-once-produced-parts-of-nuclear-weapons-in-south-carolina-180987099/A report from the Department of Energy says the finding did not impact other activities and operationsTue, 05 Aug 2025 17:21:26 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/officials-discover-radioactive-wasp-nests-at-facility-that-once-produced-parts-of-nuclear-weapons-in-south-carolina-180987099/Ancient, Parasitic Wasp Used Its Rear End Like a Venus Flytrap to Catch Insects and Lay Its Eggs on Them, Study Suggestshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-parasitic-wasp-used-its-rear-end-like-a-venus-flytrap-to-catch-insects-and-lay-its-eggs-on-them-study-suggests-180986322/Scientists say they’ve never seen anything like this “truly unique” species, which was found encased in amberFri, 28 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-parasitic-wasp-used-its-rear-end-like-a-venus-flytrap-to-catch-insects-and-lay-its-eggs-on-them-study-suggests-180986322/Meet the Brazilian Velvet Ant, a Rare 'Ultra-Black' Wasp That's So Dark It Absorbs Almost All Visible Lighthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/meet-the-brazilian-velvet-ant-a-rare-ultra-black-wasp-thats-dark-that-it-absorbs-almost-all-visible-light-180985701/While the distinctive coloration is thought to be a warning to predators, it also has intriguing implications for designing man-made materialsThu, 19 Dec 2024 18:22:20 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/meet-the-brazilian-velvet-ant-a-rare-ultra-black-wasp-thats-dark-that-it-absorbs-almost-all-visible-light-180985701/These Stunning Portraits of Insects Reveal the Intricacies of an Amazing Worldhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/these-stunning-portraits-of-insects-reveal-the-intricacies-of-an-amazing-world-180984926/Photographer Thorben Danke combines hundreds of shots to create breathtaking images of the tiny creaturesWed, 28 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/these-stunning-portraits-of-insects-reveal-the-intricacies-of-an-amazing-world-180984926/Invasive Yellow-Legged Hornet Spotted in the U.S. for the First Timehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/invasive-yellow-legged-hornet-spotted-in-the-us-for-the-first-time-180982750/The insect, detected in Georgia, can snatch bees from the air while hunting, posing a threat to native pollinators and agricultureFri, 18 Aug 2023 14:00:07 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/invasive-yellow-legged-hornet-spotted-in-the-us-for-the-first-time-180982750/These Wasps Can Fight Predators With Their Spiky Genitaliahttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-wasps-can-fight-predators-with-their-spiky-genitalia-180981337/The insects jabbed their spines at hungry frogs in a similar way to how females stingTue, 20 Dec 2022 21:59:17 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-wasps-can-fight-predators-with-their-spiky-genitalia-180981337/Scientists Are Using Sex Pheromones to Lure in Murder Hornetshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-are-using-sex-pheromones-to-lure-in-murder-hornets-180979740/The method may be the best way to eliminate the insects from non-native habitatsWed, 16 Mar 2022 20:20:59 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-are-using-sex-pheromones-to-lure-in-murder-hornets-180979740/How Can Ant and Termite Queens Live So Long?https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-can-ant-and-termite-queens-live-so-long-180979408/Scientists are working to understand the matriarchs, who can survive decades while investing huge amounts of energy into reproductionFri, 21 Jan 2022 13:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-can-ant-and-termite-queens-live-so-long-180979408/Entomologists Eradicated the First Asian Giant 'Murder' Hornet Nest of 2021https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/entomologists-eradicated-first-asian-giant-murder-hornet-nest-2021-180978543/The hive was located just two miles from where officials found another nest in 2020Mon, 30 Aug 2021 18:36:35 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/entomologists-eradicated-first-asian-giant-murder-hornet-nest-2021-180978543/Wasp Nest Glows Green Under UV Lighthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/wasp-nest-glows-green-under-uv-light-180978533/Silk fibers give the nest its radiant a neon hueFri, 27 Aug 2021 19:55:26 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/wasp-nest-glows-green-under-uv-light-180978533/