Can Wasps Eat Spiders?
WouterWhether you’ve noticed a spider wasp in your garden or are curious about these insects, here are some facts to help you identify them. These insects belong to a family called Pompilidae. They are large, dark, and often have nervous flicking of their wings.
During their early life stages, most species of spider wasps spend time underground. They burrow in soft, sandy soil, or even mud. They construct their nests with several mud chambers. The nests are closed off with eggs. The wasps then feed the larvae on insect carcasses.
Adult spider wasps are nectar-feeding insects. They hunt for spiders during the spring when they emerge from their burrows. They eat nectar, honeydew, and sugary liquids.
They can attack and sting spiders, although most species of spider wasps are solitary. Some species walk on spider webs, while others are ground burrowing wasps. Some spider wasps are parasitoid and feed on spiders to feed their larvae.
The life cycle of a spider wasp begins in the spring when the pupa overwintering inside the female becomes an adult. The pupa is a stinging insect, but the venom is not very strong. The wasp may kill the spider, or it may sting the spider for nutrition. The venom wears off after four weeks.
The Pompilid wasp is an insect that is host to a variety of spiders. It also lays eggs on spiders. It uses its chemosensory cues to determine which spiders are its host.
