Page 125 - World of Animals - Deadly Predators

Predatory wasps

25. Are they beneficial 28. Do they ever live in hives?

to their ecosystem? No – predatory wasps are solitary
Wasps are considered apex predators – and lead a lonesome existence as

they remove a huge amount of insects single parents. That said, sometimes
from the ecosystems in which they there may be a collective of

live, making them top pest controllers. females who have made nests
Crops, allotments and gardens wouldn’t in one particular area. This could

flourish without them! In their thirst be a ‘safety in numbers’ type of

for nectar they are also important arrangement, but it’s most likely to
pollinators, dispersing pollen and be down to prey availability.

furthering plant growth along their way.

29. What attracts wasps to prey?
26. How are the Wasps hunt using a variety of methods,
nests protected?
Once eggs are laid and and one of them is scent. Amazingly,
prey is provided as
food, wasps will seal this technique is exploited by a plant
their nests. They’re called Stemona tuberosa. The seeds
small and often
camouflaged, but that attract wasps by smelling like some
doesn’t always stop
them being raided by tasty prey, which wasps then attack
other hungry predators.
and carry off before dropping them on
the ground. A fantastic way to get your
© Alamy seeds dispersed!

30. Is there a difference
between parasitoid and
predatory?
Yes. Some species of wasp will hunt
other insects, but won’t kill them.
They use the insect as a host, which
doesn’t make them a predator.

© Wiki /Astrobradley

27. Do they steal prey?
Yes! There are a small number
of spider wasp species that will
actively hunt spiders that have
been paralysed by other wasps –
© Getty
this is known as kleptoparasitism.

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