What Do Wasps Eat?

Generally, a wasp’s diet consists of several different food groups. Depending on the species, it might include insects, fruit, fungi, and aphids.

Some wasp species feed on aphids and other insects, while others eat nectar from flowers. While these wereps may look like pests, they are actually beneficial to the ecosystem. They control insect populations, and in some cases, reduce the number of mosquitoes.

There are two main groups of wasps: parasitoids and social species. The former lay eggs inside of living insects, and the latter live in colonies. Both groups help control insect populations, and some of them even help protect plants from insects.

Adult parasitoid wasps eat their host pests, while adult non-parasitic wasps primarily feed on nectar and honey from flowers. Their diets vary, but they are generally attracted to fruit trees and other plants with high sugar content.

During the spring and summer, wasps are very active. They are attracted to sweet foods, and will fly in search of the sugary substances. They will also scavenge dead animals and insects.

In the winter, they hibernate and need to find food elsewhere. They may eat mosquitoes and other insects in the way, but they are not a major part of their diet.

While the larvae of most wasp species are carnivorous, the queen of a wasp will lay eggs inside of caterpillars. The larvae feed inside the insect, and eventually regurgitate nectar for the adults.

When the queen wasp is finished with the eggs, she stops fertilizing them. The young wasps then begin to emerge from the eggs.