How Wasps and Farmers Work Together

Introduction:

The economy in Trier relies heavily on making and selling wine. That’s why when I look out my window, I see rows and rows of grapevines! The farmers who live here (and in towns nearby) rely on this tiny creature to help grow their fruit and turn it into wine.

What does this creature or plant look like?:

Wasps are insects with black and white stripes, big eyes and antennae. You can tell wasps apart from bees by how fuzzy they are. While bees are often covered in tiny hairs, wasps look more smooth.

How did I feel when I saw it?:

When I first arrived in Trier, I ate at an outdoor restaurant that was near lots of grapevines and flowers. Suddenly I noticed there were lots of wasps around me! I was pretty freaked out at first, because I was afraid of getting stung. But then I learned that the wasps here don’t sting unless they feel really scared, so as long as I didn’t try to annoy or hurt the wasps, I would be okay. I’ve seen lots of wasps since then, but have never been stung!

Where does it live?:

Wasps sometimes live in nests made out of plants, pollen or mud. Other times, they make their homes by digging holes in the ground. No matter what their houses look like, wasps have to live near lots of plants so that they can gather pollen and other food sources.

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