What Do Wasps Eat? 6 Types of Wasp Diets

Wasps hover around human food in picnics and gardens, in most cases scaring them to no end! But what do wasps eat? Do they really like all those syrups and sodas?

Known for their interesting physical features, nest-building techniques, and ability to live as colonies, wasps are indeed one of god’s most unique creations. 

If you have a knack for learning about the insect world, you might be wondering what wasps eat. 

Well, there are around 18,000 wasp species of wasp in North America, and their dietary habits vary. You’ll get to know more about it from this article.

Types of Wasps?

Before we get to what wasps eat, let’s get a quick overview of the three main types of wasps out there:

• Social wasps: These are the wasps that live in colonies. Social wasps work together to build a large nest, defend it, find food, etc. A dominant queen wasp leads each colony.
• Solitary wasps: As you might guess from the name, solitary wasps live alone. Rather than building colonies, they make individual wasp nests to lay eggs.
• Parasitic wasps: These wasps have an interesting way of laying eggs. A female wasp of this type chooses a host insect and lays eggs in its body. When the eggs hatch, the wasp larvae start consuming the host from the inside out.

What Do They Eat?

While the feeding habits vary from one species to another, most adult wasps feed primarily on sugary substances like nectar. 

Many wasps also eat insects, especially in their larval stages. To make it easier for you, we have compiled this information in the form of questions you might have about what wasps eat.

Do Wasps Eat Insects?

Most wasp species do not eat insects once they mature into adults.

However, it’s common for wasps to catch or kill insects such as cicadas, cockroaches, beetles, flies, and other bugs to keep their larvae fed. 

Many wasps are also capable of injecting paralytic venom with their stingers. They paralyze their prey and leave it with the eggs for the larvae to feed after hatching.

Do Wasps Eat Fruit?

Adult wasps are drawn to foods with high sugar content, which include a wide variety of foods. 

This is why leaving fruits in the open for too long often attracts wasps. Oranges, bananas, blackberries, and sliced apples are among some of their favorite fruits.

Do Wasps Eat Nectar?

Yes, nectar is what most adult wasps primarily feed on, which is why you’ll often find them in your garden. This also makes wasps great pollinators, alongside bees. 

Having non-aggressive wasps in your garden is a good thing since they can help your garden thrive better. Male wasps forage for nectar much more frequently than female wasps.

Do Wasps Eat Sugar?

Sugar is a crucial part of a wasp’s diet, which is why nectar and fruits are among their favorite foods. 

In the wild, wasps also feed on honeydew secreted by aphids and other similar insects for the same reason – high sugar content.

Do Wasps Eat Spiders?

Some predatory wasp species prey on spiders. Some of them, such as the mud dauber wasps are particularly good at this and can even capture spiders from their webs. 

Tarantula hawks are a particularly famous example of this type – these wasps can take down about 12 tarantulas many times their size in their lifetime!

However, they do this to feed their young – adult wasps do not eat spiders. 

Do Wasps Eat Mosquitoes?

In case you were hoping that wasps living in your home could help get rid of mosquitoes, I have bad news for you. 

Generally speaking, mosquitoes aren’t a part of a wasp’s diet. Although many wasps hunt insects for their young, they rarely target mosquitoes.

Do Wasps Eat Wood?

You may have noticed wasps digging into wood surfaces or chewing wood and found it strange that they eat wood. 

This is common among certain species, like bald-faced hornets, yellow jackets, and paper wasps. 

Well, they don’t actually “eat” the wood – they use it to extract cellulose and make paper pulp for their nests.

Do Wasps Eat Meat?

While most wasp larvae are insectivores and eat meat, most adult wasps cannot digest animal protein. 

However, there are a few exceptions, such as yellow jackets. Not only do they eat meat, but they’re highly attracted to it.

Are Wasps Attracted to Human Food?

If you have ever had a picnic ruined due to a swarm of wasps buzzing around, it’s because they’re highly attracted to various human foods. 

Sugary foods and drinks are particularly attractive to them, while meat can attract certain wasp species too.

What Do Wasps Drink?

Apart from water, wasps also drink various types of sugary liquid. 

Much of a wasp’s diet comprises liquid substances that they can suck using specialized tubes. These include nectar, fruit juices, soft drinks, alcohol, etc.

What Do Wasps Eat in Summer?

Wasps primarily feed on nectar and pollen in summer, besides various fruits. This is why wasp activity in your garden seems particularly high during the summer months. 

The abundance of fruits and flowers during these months is a great advantage for the wasps too.

What Do Wasps Eat in Winter?

In winter, most wasps die. Their larvae turn to pupae and overwinter. Most of their preferred types of food sources are no longer available during this time of the year.

This is why you will probably not find too many wasps in the wintertime.

How Long Can Wasps Live Without Food?

There’s no clear answer to this, as the duration that wasps can survive without food depends on factors like the weather, their life stage, colony ranking, and species. 

While they sometimes last only a couple of days without food, they may also survive in several ways.

Can Wasps Get Drunk?

Just like humans, wasps can get drunk from consuming alcohol. Furthermore, it’s much easier for them to get drunk – even a small drop of alcohol is enough. 

Drunk wasps are much more aggressive and irritable than usual, which also means they’re more likely to sting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrap Up

If you have ever wondered why your garden or outdoor BBQ parties attract wasps a lot, you now know why. 

While wasp stings are painful, most of the common wasps do not sting unless disturbed. Of course, there are aggressive species, like yellow jackets, that you should stay clear of. 

If you want to attract more wasps to your garden, just plant flowering plants that produce a lot of nectar. 

Thank you for reading!