An Introduction to Wasps with Heather Holm

While most folks have relatively friendly feelings toward bees, the same cannot be said of wasps, which are widely feared for the painful stings some species can inflict. As is often the case, there is much more to the story! Heather Holm’s most recent book on native pollinators is Wasps: Their Biology, Diversity, and Role as Beneficial Insects and Pollinators of Native Plants. She will discuss this much-maligned yet truly fascinating and valuable group of insects. Heather Holm is a biologist, pollinator conservationist, and award-winning author. In addition to assisting with native bee research projects, she informs and educates audiences nationwide, through her writing and many presentations, about the fascinating world of native pollinators and beneficial insects, and the native plant communities that support them. Heather’s expertise includes the interactions between native pollinators and native plants, and the natural history and biology of native bees and predatory wasps occurring in the Upper Midwest and Northeast. Heather is a National Honorary Director of Wild Ones. She also serves on the board of the Friends of Cullen Nature Preserve and Bird Sanctuary, a 501(c)3 non-profit. In her spare time, Heather is an active community supporter, writing grants and coordinating neighborhood volunteer landscape restoration projects. Currently, she is working on three projects with volunteers, restoring approximately ten acres of city-owned park land in her neighborhood for pollinators and people. She lives in Minnesota with her husband. Her website is https://www.pollinatorsnativeplants.com/.