Hornets and wasps, both members of the order Hymenoptera, are social insects recognized by their distinct black and yellow markings and stinging capabilities. These insects play a role in various ecosystems, acting as both predators and occasional pollinators. Understanding their dietary habits reveals how they sustain themselves and their colonies and interact with their environment.
Adult Diets
Adult hornets and wasps primarily require carbohydrates for energy, fueling activities like foraging, nest building, and flight. Nectar from flowers serves as a common energy source, providing readily available carbohydrates. Tree sap, especially from damaged trees, is another frequent food item. Ripe or overripe fruits, particularly those that have fallen and fermented, also attract these insects due to their high sugar content.
Additionally, some adult wasps consume honeydew, a sugary liquid excreted by aphids. Adult wasps and hornets possess a proboscis, a tube-like mouthpart, allowing them to sip these liquid foods, as they generally cannot consume solid prey directly.
Larval Diets
Hornet and wasp larvae require substantial protein for rapid growth and development, contrasting with adult diets. Adult worker wasps and hornets actively hunt and capture other insects and arthropods to meet these protein demands. Common prey items include flies, caterpillars, spiders, grasshoppers, crickets, and even other wasp species.
Once captured, adults dismember the prey and chew it into a digestible, protein-rich paste, which is then fed directly to the larvae. In a reciprocal feeding behavior, larvae secrete a sweet, carbohydrate-rich liquid that adult workers and queens consume, supplementing the adults’ sugar intake. This ensures a continuous nutrient exchange within the colony, supporting both adult energy needs and larval growth.
Dietary Differences Between Hornets and Wasps
While both hornets and wasps share fundamental dietary requirements for carbohydrates as adults and protein for their larvae, their foraging strategies and prey preferences differ. Hornets, generally larger, tend to prey on larger insects such as beetles, larger flies, grasshoppers, and honey bees. Their size and robust mandibles allow them to subdue and process substantial prey for their young.
Wasps, in contrast, often target a broader range of smaller insects, including aphids, smaller flies, and caterpillars, making them effective biological control agents for garden pests. Many wasp species, particularly yellowjackets, are also known for opportunistic scavenging, frequently attracted to human food sources like sugary drinks, picnics, and garbage. Hornets are less prone to scavenging around human refuse, preferring natural sugar sources like tree sap and ripe fruit.