Why Does a Wasp’s Abdominal Pulsate?
WouterOften times we see a wasp pulsating its abdomen. These insects are part of the Vespidae family. They are commonly found in the UK. These insects are commonly used to pollinate flowers and insects. They also eat caterpillars and whiteflies. They can also be aggressive and may sting humans.
Wasps are often solitary creatures. Their bodies are relatively slender and they have little to no hair. They also have insect-sized brains. They do not have lungs, but they breathe through spiracles on the sides of their body. Unlike bees, they do not have hair on their legs. They are also curious creatures. In addition to their stingers, wasps have defensive spikes on the lower abdomen.
They may also eat bees and other insects. Many species of wasps also consume caterpillars and whiteflies. However, only a few species of wasps are truly considered to be pests by humans. These include the Japanese hornet, the European Hornet and the paper wasp. These insects are large and can be almost an inch long.
These wasps are able to sting people repeatedly. The stings are usually localized, but they can also be a few times. They are also able to leave their stingers behind after an attack. This can help reduce the local reaction.
To investigate the defensive behaviors of wasps, Dr Tibbetts studied live wasps. He used a nonparametric Fisher test to compare the frequency of behaviors between the younger and older workers. He found that the younger workers performed more defensive behaviors than the older workers. He also painted the faces of dead wasps to study their reactions.
