Do Wasps Produce Honey?

Unlike bees, wasps do not produce honey. However, they do produce honeydew, a sweet substance secreted by bugs and used by adult wasps in their colonies.

There are only a few species of wasps that produce honey. One species, the Mexican honey wasp, is native to Mexico and Southern Texas. The other species is Brachygastra lecheguana, a dark paper wasp.

There are 17 species of social paper wasps in the Brachygastra genus. These wasps are mainly found in Central and South America. The queen builds a nest in a cave or underground structure and erects a filighenet network of honeycombs. These honeycombs are used as a food reserve during winter months.

In the wild, wasps use stings to catch prey. They also use pheromones, which other creatures can detect, to warn of danger. They do not produce wax or syrups.

Bees, bumblebees and other hymenopteran insects produce honey with different properties. Bees and other wasps use paper nests for brood rearing. The nests are abandoned in autumn.

Unlike bees and bumblebees, wasps do not store protein foods. They have developed technologies to store pollen and nectar. They also use alarm pheromones to warn of danger.

Honey wasps are believed to be docile when left alone. But when disturbed, they will sting multiple times. Moreover, many wasps let their antennae hang. These stings can cause pain. The Schmidt Sting Pain Index rates them as a two on the pain scale.

The Mexican honey wasp produces small amounts of honey. Its honey is made from material from common floral sources and contains honeydew. It is eaten as a local delicacy in Mexico.