What type of wasps are the most common?
Q: What type of wasps are the most common?
A: By far the most common type of wasp is a special type of parasite called parasitoids.
Q: What do parasitoid wasps usually lay their eggs in or on?
A: Parasitoid wasps usually lay their eggs in or on the bodies of other insect species, typically larvae such as caterpillars.
Q: What do parasitic wasps feed on as adults?
A: Most parasitic wasps do not get any nutrients from their prey. Those that do feed as adults usually get all of their nutrition from nectar.
Q: How does a parasitic wasp paralyze its host?
A: A parasitic wasp will paralyze its host by injecting it with venom through its ovipositor.
Q: Where does a parasitic wasp typically lay its eggs?
A: A parasitic wasp will typically either insert one or more eggs into the host or deposit them upon the host externally.
Q: How does the host die when parasitized by a parasitic wasp?
A: The host remains alive until the parasitoid larvae are mature and then dies later when they pupate or emerge as adults, essentially being eaten alive by the larvae.
Q: Why are farmers buying these types of parasites for insect control in their fields?
A: Farmers buy these types of parasites for insect control in their fields because they themselves do little to no damage to crops and can be used to naturally control pest numbers (biocontrol).
