Where Do Executioner Wasps Live?
WouterWhether you’ve heard of the Executioner Wasp or not, you probably know that it has a sting that’s considered extremely painful. It’s also one of the largest wasps in the genus Polistes. It’s found in Central and South America.
The Executioner Wasp has a long yellow exoskeleton, with no typical black stripes. The length of its stinger varies according to the gender of the wasp.
These wasps are cosmopolitan, meaning they live all over the world. They’re mainly found in Central and South America. They live in wooded areas and tropical forests. They build small colonies under tree branches or eaves. They build nests from paper mache or wood fibres.
The adult paper wasps visit plants to get carbohydrates from nectar. They feed the larvae by chewing up prey into balls. The larvae then feed on the balls, nourishing them with protein. Once they’ve become adults, they return the balls to the nest.
The females of the Executioner Wasp are fertile breeders, and will lay eggs in the nest. The queen will then care for the larvae and the colony. When the colony is established, the queen will find a location that will be safe for her to lay eggs. She will also care for her young and protect them from predators.
Depending on the subspecies, the average size of an Executioner Wasp can vary from 0.9 to 1.06 inches in length. The size of an adult depends on the diet and gender.
