How Are Wasps and Bees Enemies?

Whether you’re a honey bee or a beekeeper, you might be wondering how wasps and bees relate to each other. While there are predators that attack bees and wasps, some insects and invertebrates also feed on them. And some predators have poison.

Many non-parasitic wasps hunt insects and spiders. Their sting paralyzes prey, allowing the wasp to carry it. These species also drill through the bark of trees and plant stems. Some of them even inject their eggs into the host insect. These species usually have bright colors to warn their predators.

These predators have quick speed and thick skin. Some are able to crush bees and other insects.

Some predators can kill wasps and bees by balling them. They can also be killed by hyperthermia, which causes the wasp to suffocate.

Most wasps have a “wasp waist” which is a constriction between the thorax and abdomen. This waist is especially prominent in the yellow mud dauber wasp.

Some predators, such as black bears, can feed on wasps and bees. Other invertebrates such as dragonflies, salamanders, and toads can also eat wasps. They can also be eaten by several different birds. For instance, bluebirds, chipping sparrows, blackbirds, and even garden spiders can eat wasps.

Yellowjackets are the most common predators of bees. These predatory wasps take a wide variety of prey. Some yellowjacket species specialize in attacking beehives. These species can eat up to a pound of bugs in a year, and they are very efficient hunters.