How Does Honey Wasps Make Honey?
WouterAmong the hundreds of types of wasps, only 17 species produce honey. These species are known as honey wasps. These species are located throughout Central and South America. However, the production of wasp honey is much smaller than that of honey bees.
In order to make honey, honey wasps have to collect nectar from flowers. They then regurgitate this sugary substance and store it in their nest. The nests are often greyish in color and made up of small slithers of plant material.
The main food source for wasps is nectar. Wasps also eat other insects, fruit, and even meat. They are also known to drink sugary drinks. These insects have powerful jaws that allow them to chew up their prey.
Wasps can also consume pollen from flowers. This helps plants bear fruit. The pollen provides protein. The amount of fur on the wasps’ body is also a key factor in how much pollen they can carry.
Honey wasps are usually bigger than the common honey bee. They are also more aggressive predators. They often have a stinger and can capture prey multiple times. They can also use the stinger to bring the meat back to the young. They are also known to collect honeydew, a sweet substance secreted by bugs.
Honey wasps are not very good at pollination. However, they do have a useful role in pest control. Many farmers use wasps to destroy insects. Some species can also eat pollen, which helps plants bear fruit.
