Life expectancy of a wasp without food and in conditions of sufficient nutrition
In nature, there are many different types of wasps. All of them differ from each other in appearance, behavior, lifestyle, and are also divided into two main groups - social and solitary insects.
Content
What is the lifespan of wasps in nature
In general, all types of wasps are not long-lived. Their lifespan is affected not only by external factors, but also by which group of insects they belong to.
How long do social species of wasps live
Colonies of social species of wasps adhere to an internal hierarchy, and all individuals in them are divided into three different groups. Each group has its own meaning for the family, performs certain duties and has a certain life span.
Large queen wasp.
Different members of the wasp family can live:
- the queen that rules the colony and lays eggs lives from 2 to 4 years;
- barren young females, who provide food and building materials for the entire nest, live an average of 2-2,5 months;
- males that fertilize females at a certain time can live from a few weeks to several months.
How long do solitary wasps live
Single wasp.
Solitary wasp species do not form families, and all females of such species become queens. Each young wasp builds its own nest and provides food for its offspring.
The life expectancy of single females is usually 12 months, and males 2-3 months.
In temperate regions, female solitary wasps rarely survive the winter. Most of the individuals die due to severe frosts or natural enemies.
How long can a wasp live without food
In the cold season, the wasps hibernate. In this state, the metabolism in their body slows down significantly and insects can easily go without food for months.
Active adult wasps are constantly in need of food, so they are constantly looking for food for themselves and their larvae.
In those days when weather conditions do not allow insects to leave the nest, they are saved by larvae. They are able to regurgitate droplets of a special nutrient - a secret that adults can eat.
Conclusion
Wasps, like most other insects, cannot boast of a long life. Among them, only females capable of bearing offspring can be called centenarians. Males, in most cases, die shortly after they fulfill their purpose - they fertilize females.
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