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Wasps are insects that belong to the order Hymenoptera, which also includes bees and ants. They have a slender body and a narrow waist, with two pairs of wings and a stinger. Wasps feed on nectar, fruit, and insects. Some species are social and live in colonies, while others are solitary. Female wasps lay eggs on or in a host, and the larvae feed on the host until they pupate and emerge as adult wasps. Wasps are important pollinators and predators of pests, but some species can be aggressive and sting humans. Overall, wasps play a vital role in many ecosystems.
Wildlife
The Anatomy and Diet of Wasps
Wasp anatomy
How Stuff Works
With over 20,000 species of wasps existing worldwide, there is a wide variability in their physical characteristics, including color, size, shape, and lifestyle. However, certain fundamental features are present in most species.
Like all insects, wasps have hard chitin exoskeletons separated into three body segments:
- The head has one pair of sensory antennae, mouthparts for biting and licking, and two kidney-shaped clusters of compound eyes and simple eyes (ocelli). A small brain manages the tasks performed by the wasp. In certain species of wasps, certain parts of the brain become more active when faced with challenging tasks [source: University of Washington].
- The thorax has six spindly legs and a pair of swift, membranous wings. In many species, the legs and wings have enough strength to enable the wasp to fly away with a paralyzed prey in its grasp.
- The abdomen contains most of the wasps’ organ systems and, in female wasps, a lethal stinger for self-defense and hunting.
These body parts work together to create an efficient killing machine. However, understanding how this body serves modern types of wasps necessitates imagining how it originally served them before the emergence of flowers.
Flowers and wasps share a mutually beneficial relationship.
ICHIRO/Taxi Japan/Getty Images
About 100 million years ago, during the Cretaceous Period, the Earth was a different planet. It lacked flowering plants and was mostly occupied by conifers, which relied on the wind to disperse their seeds. This evergreen world was teeming with insects, including ants and their winged relatives, the wasps (both belonging to the Hymenoptera order). Everyone was struggling to survive and find food.
The wasps of that time were carnivorous and preyed on spiders and other insects, many of which, in turn, fed on vegetation. Eventually, plant evolution started to take advantage of this continuous insect movement, using it to transport genetic material from plant to plant, similar to the wind. This resulted in the emergence of angiosperms, plants that rely on insects to spread genetic material in pollen from male plant parts (anthers) to female plant parts (stigmas).
In essence, these plants learned to deceive insects into transporting their genetic material for them. The inclusion of delicious nectar and pollen made the deal even better for the insects, providing them with specific reasons to visit the parts of the plant where pollen was produced. Prehistoric wasps learned of this free meal and, over time, started to rely mostly on nectar as their primary food source.
As they evolved, honeybees learned to collect pollen and return it to their young, but wasps never caught on to the entire honey-and-wax industry. As a result, while adult wasps mostly abandoned their meat-eating ways to dine out on the local flowering angiosperm, they had to keep bringing meat back to the nest for the hungry larvae, similar to vegan parents bringing home a pepperoni pizza for their children.
This arrangement plays a significant role in the life of most wasp species and is one of the reasons why these nectar-eating creatures have such a potent sting.
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The anatomy of wasps and bees varies significantly. Wasps have a sleeker and more streamlined body with narrower waists and legs. Unlike bees, they don’t have bristles for grabbing pollen. Wasps are predators, not foragers. If you want to learn more about the distinctions between bees and wasps, check out “What’s the difference between bees and wasps?”
FAQ
1. What are wasps?
Wasps are flying insects that belong to the Hymenoptera order, which also includes bees and ants. They are known for their slender body, narrow waist, and stingers that they use for defense. Wasps come in various colors, including black, yellow, and brown.
2. What do wasps eat?
Adult wasps feed on nectar, honeydew, and other sweet substances. In contrast, wasp larvae feed on insects, spiders, and other small creatures that the adult wasps catch and bring to their nests. Some wasp species are also known to feed on fruits and caterpillars.
3. How do wasps build their nests?
Wasps build their nests using wood fibers and saliva. The female wasps chew the wood fibers into a pulp and mix it with their saliva to create a paste, which they use to construct their nests. The nests can be made of paper, mud, or other materials depending on the species of wasp.
4. Why do wasps sting?
Wasps sting as a defense mechanism when they feel threatened. The stinger is a modified egg-laying organ called an ovipositor, which is only present in female wasps. When a wasp stings, it injects venom into the victim’s skin, which can cause pain, swelling, and in rare cases, anaphylaxis.
5. How do wasps communicate?
Wasps communicate using chemicals called pheromones. These chemicals are released by the wasps to signal danger, attract mates, and mark territories. Wasps can also communicate through physical movements and sounds, such as wing vibrations and buzzing.
6. What is the lifespan of a wasp?
The lifespan of a wasp varies depending on the species and the role of the individual wasp. Most worker wasps live for a few weeks to a few months, while queen wasps can live for several years. Male wasps typically only live for a few weeks.
7. How do wasps mate?
Male wasps locate female wasps by following their pheromone trails. Once the male finds a receptive female, he will court her by performing a series of mating dances. After mating, the male dies, and the female may go on to mate with multiple partners.
8. What is the role of wasps in the ecosystem?
Wasps play an essential role in the ecosystem as predators of other insects and pollinators of plants. They help control the population of pests like caterpillars and flies, which can damage crops and spread diseases. Additionally, wasps contribute to the pollination of flowers and other plants.
9. How can I prevent wasps from nesting near my home?
To prevent wasps from nesting near your home, you can take several measures. These include sealing up any cracks or openings in your home’s exterior, removing potential food sources like garbage and fallen fruit, and placing wasp traps or decoys in areas where wasps are likely to nest. Additionally, you should avoid wearing bright colors and sweet-scented perfumes, which can attract wasps.
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