Mays Ibrahim (ABU DHABI)
Abu Dhabi's tiny but mighty digger wasps play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance.
Named after their ground-nesting habits, these unsung heroes provide vital pollination and pest control services, supporting both the natural environment and local agriculture.
The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) has long recognised that the smallest faunas play a major role in the emirate's ecosystem, disproportionate to their size in its impact.
Last year, EAD announced the discovery of eight "new to science" invertebrate species belonging to the same family of wasps (Hymenoptera: Spheciformes: Crabronidae) and are known as "Digger Wasps".
The Ecological Importance of Digger Wasps
As the name suggests, digger wasps build their nests underground, staying close to the ground for protection and to detect food sources.
These wasps are vital to the ecosystem in two main ways, according to EAD. They help control pest populations by hunting and killing other insects to provision their nests, and they pollinate flowers and crops, directly benefiting local agriculture.
The discovery of the new wasp species in Abu Dhabi not only adds to the global catalogue of biodiversity but also contributes to the UAE's broader goals of conservation, EAD said in an interview with Aletihad.
"This discovery shows that much more faunal diversity in the UAE is yet to be discovered. New discoveries increase our information about the history of species and can therefore affect their conservation in the future."
Many of these species inhabit areas that are at risk of significant change or even disappearance in the coming years, according to EAD.
"Naming a species is the first step towards protecting it from extinction as, once it is identified, efforts can be initiated to monitor and conserve the species," it explained.
EAD is conducting systematic species monitoring progammes to track the wasps' population stability and their environmental interactions. This includes gathering data on their food sources, flower use, and how vegetation cover influences their behaviour and nesting sites.
Adapting to a Harsh Climate
These wasps were caught in Malaise traps placed in Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, Al Bida'a Protected Area, Houbara Protected Area and Barqa al-Suqoor Protected Area, as part of EAD's invertebrate inventory project.
EAD highlighted various physiological evolutionary adaptations that insects living in such regions have developed, allowing them to thrive where other organisms might struggle. These include temperature regulation, reproductive strategies, camouflage, nocturnal activity patterns, and reflective body colours that help deflect heat.
For example, many desert darkling beetles have a hard, waxy external supportive covering (exoskeleton) that reduces water loss through evaporation. Other insect species have adapted mouthparts that allow them to extract moisture from plants or other sources effectively.
There are also insects that can enter a state of dormancy or diapause during extreme dry periods, delaying their life cycle until conditions improve.
Moreover, many desert insects have short life cycles, allowing them to reproduce quickly during brief periods of favourable conditions, such as after rare rainfalls.
EAD's Ongoing Efforts in Insect Conservation
Insects in general are crucial components of many ecosystems due to their vital roles as pollinators, pest controllers, and soil aerators.
As decomposers, insects help create topsoil, the nutrient-rich layer of earth that helps plants grow, EAD explained.
Many insects, especially beetles, are scavengers that feed on dead animals and fallen trees, thereby recycling nutrients back into the soil. Burrowing bugs, such as ants and beetles, dig tunnels that help water penetrate the soil, benefiting plants.
In previous years, EAD has described dozens of new species of insects.
In addition to conducting field research, EAD is actively building local expertise through citizen science initiatives and educational outreach programmes that empower local communities to appreciate and protect the emirate's biodiversity.