How Much Do Wasps Weigh?
WouterAmong the groups of insects that are found throughout the world, wasps are the most successful. They have hundreds of thousands of described species. Most wasps feed on insects, pollen, fruit and sweets. In some cases, wasps are stinging insects. They can live up to 12-22 days. They fly at about seven miles per hour. They spend time after dark caring for their family and nests.
The amount of weight a wasp carries depends on the type of wasp and its species. Larger wasps carry more prey than smaller wasps. Moreover, larger wasps have greater variability in their weight. It is thought that wasps carry prey because they have to carry it while walking.
The study was conducted in eight widely distributed nesting aggregations in North Carolina. Data were collected on 258 wasps. The weight of each wasp was measured with an Ohaus Scout Pro balance. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance in SYSTAT v.13.1 (Systat Software, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The results show that the range of prey loads for large and small wasps is similar. The prey load is defined as prey weight/predicted wasp weight x 100. The predicted wet weight was calculated from the measurements of the wasp’s head capsule. The predicted weight was then compared with the actual weight of the beetles that the wasps captured. The prey loads are then normalized using the Johnson Sb transformation.
The average predicted prey load of the large wasps was 111% of their wet weight. However, the prey load of the small wasps was only about 60% of their wet weight. This is due to the fact that small wasps were able to capture more species of beetles than large wasps.
