How Hot Can Wasps Survive?
WouterDuring a heatwave, wasps can be a menace. They can be quite aggressive when they are near their nest. They are also known for stinging multiple times. They have a long life span, and are quite prolific. However, some wasps do die from heat, and other animals can also die from heat.
Wasps use a number of mechanisms to regulate their body temperatures, and a number of insect species have developed a thermal tolerance. A few of these insect species can survive in temperatures as high as 123 degrees Fahrenheit. Other wasp species can survive up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit, but most species do not survive above 97 degrees Fahrenheit.
One of the best ways for wasps to regulate their body temperatures is by “sweating”. This process requires energy, but can only occur when the temperature difference between the body and the surrounding air is significant. The process also has a lot to do with the structure of the body fluids.
A number of researchers tested how well wasps could handle the heat. They used video cameras to observe the habitat and collected CO2 emissions from wasps. They also evaluated habitat recordings to determine how active wasps were.
They also used a standardized method to assess how well wasps regulated their body temperatures. They found that the average body temperature of wasps was about 2.5 degC higher than the ambient temperature. This figure is about one third of the average body temperature of adult humans.
