Wasps aren't picky eaters at all: their diet shifts depending on the species, the season, and their stage of life. From hunting insects to raiding your soda can and swarming over picnics, find out what attracts them.
So, what do wasps eat?
A wasp's diet changes as it grows. Larvae rely almost entirely on protein; adult wasps hunt insects and bring back chewed-up pieces to feed them. In return, the larvae secrete a sugary liquid that the adults consume. It's a two-way exchange that keeps the colony running through spring and early summer.
Once the larvae mature into adults, that internal sugar supply dries up. Adult wasps then shift to foraging for their own food. This includes nectar, fruit, and anything sweet they can find.
Spring & early summer: Workers focus on hunting insects to feed the growing colony's larvae. Wasp activity is high but mostly directed away from humans.
Late summer & fall: With fewer larvae to feed, adult wasps crave sugar. This is when they become a nuisance at picnics, garbage cans, and outdoor dining.
Fall into winter: As temperatures drop, colonies begin to die off. Only newly mated queens survive to overwinter and start new colonies the following spring.
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The mud dauber wasp is a common predator of spiders in North America. Rather than eating the spider, the mud dauber wasp stings it, paralyzes it, and places the corpse in a mud cell in the wasp nest. The larva then feed on the spider.
Unfortunately, wasps are not a common predator of the mosquito. Wasps are more commonly known for controlling spider and caterpillar populations.
Sort of. Paper wasps chew wood pulp to help create their paper-like nests. If you have wooden structures on your property, make sure you have a wasp control plan to help protect your property.
Yellow jackets are commonly known for feeding on human food, like meat, and other insects and spiders. This is one of the reasons they can be such a nuisance to people.
Some wasps are cannibals, meaning they will eat other wasps when food sources are scarce. This behavior is most commonly seen in species like the European hornet and certain yellow jacket species. Cannibalism typically occurs when protein sources are limited, and wasps turn to their own kind as a last resort. In some cases, stronger wasps will attack weaker individuals or consume dead nestmates to sustain the colony. This survival strategy ensures that the most dominant wasps have enough nutrients to continue foraging and reproducing.
Your local Western Exterminator pest technician will devise a comprehensive wasp control plan to help keep wasps away from your home and family. We also provide wasp nest removal services.
Contact us online to learn more about our wasp control services, or give us a call at 800-937-8398.
We have offices across the West Coast states, not just in the major cities. Click on this link to find your local Western Exterminator office.
Wasps primarily eat sugary substances like nectar, fruit juices, and honeydew. They also consume proteins from insects to feed their larvae.
The wasp is a predator of many insects, but that doesn't mean other animals don't eat wasps. Some natural predators of wasps include:
Wasps can temporarily be deterred by strong scents like peppermint, eucalyptus, and citronella. They also avoid sudden movements and smoke.
In early summer, wasps hunt insects to feed their larvae in exchange for sugary secretions. By late summer, as larvae mature, adult wasps seek external sugar sources. In winter, wasps become sluggish and remain in their nests, relying on stored energy reserves or scavenging when temperatures allow.
Wasps require high-energy foods, and sugary substances provide quick energy. In late summer, their need for sugar intensifies as larvae stop producing sweet secretions.
Different wasp species have varied diets. While most feed on nectar and insects, some, like yellow jackets, scavenge for human food, and others, like parasitic wasps, rely on hosts for sustenance.
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