Ground hornets are a type of wasp, often recognized for constructing their nests underground. Their diet varies significantly between adult ground hornets and their developing young, reflecting different nutritional requirements at each life stage.
Primary Food Sources
The diet of ground hornets is divided between the needs of the adult insects and their growing larvae. Adult ground hornets primarily consume carbohydrate-rich substances, which provide the energy necessary for flight and daily activities. They are often observed feeding on nectar from various flowers, a readily available source of sugars in their environment. This preference extends to other sugary liquids, including tree sap and the juices from ripe or damaged fruits like apples, pears, and grapes.
In contrast, ground hornet larvae require a protein-rich diet to support their rapid growth and development. Adult female ground hornets provision their underground nests with paralyzed insects, which serve as the sole food source for their offspring. For many species commonly referred to as ground hornets, such as cicada killer wasps, large insects like cicadas are the primary prey item. Other protein sources for larvae can include various insects like flies, crickets, grasshoppers, and caterpillars. The adult hornets do not consume these prey directly but process them for their young.
Hunting and Foraging Methods
Female ground hornets are skilled hunters, actively seeking out specific prey for their larvae. They locate insects by flying low and slow, such as when searching for cicadas. Once prey is detected, the hornet captures it and delivers a paralyzing sting, immobilizing the victim without killing it outright. This paralysis ensures the prey remains fresh until the larvae are ready to consume it.
After paralyzing the prey, the female hornet transports it back to her underground nest. She may drag the often much larger insect into a prepared burrow, where she lays an egg on or near it. The larvae then feed on this living, protein-rich food source. Adult ground hornets, seeking carbohydrates for their own energy, forage by visiting flowering plants to collect nectar. They also seek out sources of fermenting or damaged fruits and tree sap, often gnawing into the fruit to access its pulp. This dual approach to food acquisition supports both the immediate energy needs of the adults and the developmental requirements of the next generation.