How Did Wasps Come to Be?
WouterWhether you live in a rural area or in the city, wasps can be a real problem. Often, they take over outdoor spaces, making it hard for us to enjoy our time. If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, for example, you may find wasps in your gutters and on your outdoor patio.
What does a wasp look like? A wasp is a hard-shelled insect with a constricted region on its abdomen. The first and second segments of the abdomen form a petiole. The ocelli are arranged in a triangular pattern.
The larvae of wasps are also different from adults. They have small jointed legs. They are nourished for several weeks by the queen. These larvae may be parasites or may eat plants.
In social wasps, a queen builds a nest. A social wasp colony may consist of thousands of female workers. The adult wasp feeds on plant food, nectar, or animal food.
Depending on the species, wasps can lay dozens to thousands of eggs. Some wasps have larvae that feed on plants, while others have larvae that feed on insects. The larvae are nourished by the queen for a few weeks.
A queen’s life span depends on a number of factors. In some species, a single queen can live up to a year. In other species, colonies can be started by more than one queen. A colony may also divide into new colonies when it becomes too large. A queen’s life span may also be influenced by climate. A queen’s life span in a cold climate may be shortened.
