Wasps have a strong potential to help control pests, said Raghavendra Gadagkar, professor and National Science Chair at the Centre for Ecological Sciences, IISc. Speaking at the T.N. Ananthakrishnan Birth Centenary Lecture titled “You are how much you eat: Caste and nutrition in the Indian paper wasp, Ropalidia marginata,” Dr. Gadagkar pointed out that while bees have been the center of attention, wasps have been overlooked. "But in recent years it has been recorded that wasps are excellent predators of pests and they are being used now for pest control. In the last five to 10 years people have woken up to the possibilities of wasps playing a larger ecological role especially in terms of pest control," he said. Dr. Gadagkar explained that nutrition shapes the wasps’ roles. Wasps that eat more grow ovaries faster and become egg layers. These well-fed larvae grow up to be adults who feed more and take on reproductive roles. "Wasps who feed more develop ovaries early. Behaviourally dominant and well-fed wasps tend to leave their natal nests to find new nests either alone or jointly. They prepare for this future by altering their behaviour both on and off the nest," he added. He also mentioned the division of labour in social insects. "Different individuals specialise in different tasks, known as castes," Dr. Gadagkar said. Supporting this ecological approach, S.N. Puri, former Vice-Chancellor of MPKV, Rahuri & Central Agricultural University, Imphal, highlighted the importance of research on technologies used in natural farming and the need to standardize drone applications to deliver biocontrol agents. J.P. Singh, Plant Protection Advisor at the Government of India, spoke about the National Pest Surveillance Scheme (NPSS). He stressed that proper pest scouting is key for farmers to decide the right use and dose of pesticides. These experts put the spotlight on the hidden power of wasps and modern tools to support eco-friendly farming and pest control.