A to Z of Wildlife

Explore the A to Z of Wildlife

More From A to Z of Wildlife

A to Z of Wildlife: W is for… Wasp!

A wasps nest is very light as it is made of chewed up wood

Wasp

Not many people like Wasps because of their nasty sting.  The common wasp is black and yellow to warn off predators.

The venom in wasps contains a smell (a ‘pheromone’) that causes other wasps to become more aggressive. Try not to swat one near its nest or other wasps!

The sting of a wasp should wear off within 24 hours but for a small minority of people, the venom in their sting can kill! An ordinary sting can be treated with deodorant containing aluminium, but we’d recommend phoning a doctor!

Wasps live in colonies that form self-contained communities, each following a caste order of queens, males and workers.

A wasps nest is very light as it is made of chewed up wood.  This is a bit like paper.

Wasps are able to sting over and over again, unlike Bees, and it is only the female wasps that can sting.

If you want to find out more about wasps, YouTuber Chris Perkins has created a fantastic video on the subject below! Thanks Chris!

[jwplayer player=”1″ mediaid=”1037779″]

Wild Challenge!  Can you remember what the difference is between bees and wasps?

A to Z of Wildlife

Explore the A to Z of Wildlife

More From A to Z of Wildlife