Wasps and hornets are best known for painful stings and their special knack for intruding on summer picnics, but those familiar with wasps say there are more to these insects around than one may imagine. Most will never sting and they play a large role in the garden ecosystem.

Presented by Laurel Moulton, Jerry Freilich and Dee Sudduth, a Class Act presentation is set for 10 a.m.-noon on Saturday, Aug. 9, at the Master Gardeners Woodcock Demonstration Garden at 2711 Woodcock Road, Sequim.

The goal, event organizers say, is to have gardeners come away with a more complete picture of the life and habits of these often maligned insects and with new knowledge of the garden insect community as a whole.

Moulton will talk about identification and habits of common members of the Vespid family (“True wasps”) and how gardeners benefit from the activities of these insects. She will discuss recommended techniques for trapping and managing nuisance hornet and wasp colonies. Entomologist Jerry Freilich will talk on the vast diversity of bees and wasps. He will show examples of the varieties of the insects and let visitors examine them under a microscope.

Veteran Master Gardeners Dee Sudduth and Cindy Eriksen join in the fun to answer insect questions and help participants learn more about the insects in the demonstration garden, including a thriving honeybee colony established there.

The WSU Clallam County Master Gardeners provide horticultural education to individuals to help them manage their landscapes and gardens in a science-based, sustainable manner and to increase public awareness of the value of home and public landscapes and the benefits of gardening as a part of a healthy lifestyle.

For more information, call the WSU Master Gardeners of Clallam County at 565-2679.