White Anglo Saxon Protestants?

Not that sort I guess...

The wasps we have in the UK are a different sort from what I saw in Illinois anyway. Those were black nasty looking critters - Ours are yellow and black stripey things that annoy people at picnics. Not much real harm in the sting unless you are allergic. I got a row of about 7 or 8 stings down my back whan I was painting the house one summer and didn't notice till I took my shirt off and the beastie flew off!

As to what they do - Eat aphids for one! Plus they lay eggs in some stoned fruit like plums and damsons which, although it sounds gross, does help ripen the rest of the fruit.

If they bug you (pun intended) at the picnic table let them into a bottle of something sweet and sticky - They will stay there for hours without being able to get out.

Cheers

DtG