Page 122 - World of Animals - Deadly Predators

30

Amazing

facts

Predatory 1. What is a

predatory wasp?

A familiar (and somewhat unwelcome)
visitor to many a summer picnic, all
wasps wasps are predatory in one way or
another. Wasps belong to the suborder
Apocrita, which also includes bees and
ants. They’re then generally split into two
groups: the solitary wasps and the social
wasps. Although each group has the
We all know wasps pack a punch same physical characteristics, the solitary
wasps are known as more voracious
with their sting, but these hunters predators. Social wasps are also
predatory, but as a group, their methods
take down prey of vast proportions are less extreme. © Getty

Words Ella Carter 4. How big are they?
Solitary wasps have a range
of sizes, but the largest are
the cicada killers and the
tarantula hawk species,
2. How do they catch prey? A wasp will attack its prey by using its which can each reach up
stinger and venom to cause either paralysis or death. Unlike bees to four centimetres (1.5
inches) in length.
where the stinger is barbed, attached to musculature and can only 5. How long do they live?
be used once, a wasp’s stinger is smooth and can be deployed as Although some species

many times as necessary. The wasp has a prolific supply of venom, may be able to hibernate
during the winter, the
which is its secret weapon for the hunt. expected lifespan of

solitary wasps doesn’t
typically exceed a year.
3. What do they 6. Do males have stingers?

prey on? No, only the female of the
Prey for solitary wasps differs species is equipped with a
between species depending on sting. It’s a modified egg-
their life history, and different laying organ and she uses
types are found all over the this to hunt prey in which
world. There are some wasps, to lay her eggs and feed
such as the sand wasp, that the larvae.
kill flies, whereas much larger
7. Do any animals
wasp species, like the spider prey on wasps?
hawk wasp, will seek out huge
Absolutely – they may be
prey like tarantula spiders.
avid predators, but solitary
Prey for solitary wasp species wasps are also very much
is almost always other insects,
prey and make a tasty
and so in some places they’re
meal for birds, reptiles,
a welcome addition alongside
amphibians and even other
humans, as they can control
insects or larger wasps!
pest levels.

120