How Do Wasps Create Honey?
WouterUnlike honey bees, wasps are carnivores. They feed on insects, fruit, and other organic material. They also collect nectar from flowers. These creatures are important pollinators. They can be found around the world. They are also useful in pest control.
There are about 7000 species of wasps in the United States. Most of these creatures are parasitoids. Their bodies are not hairy, like that of bees. Their stingers are shiny and sharp. They are also less efficient at pollinating flowers.
Honey production is a specialization of a few bee species. Most wasps do not make honey. They feed on nectar and other organic material. They also store food for larvae. Some species also deposit eggs inside prey.
Some wasp species also make honey. One example is the Mexican honey wasp. This species lives in subtropical regions of Central America. The honey is made the same way as honey bees. They collect nectar from flowers, regurgitate it, and store it. The honey is then used to feed larvae and adults.
Honey wasp colonies are perennial. They store nectar and honeydew for an extended period of time. Their nests are made of tiny slithers of plant material. They look like hexagonal cells. They are constructed from weathered wood. The nests are used by the queen to lay eggs.
The queens have an average lifespan of twelve months. They also carry drones to create new colonies. The drones have slightly longer lifespans than the female workers.
