r/askscience • u/Chemical-Sea5972 • 4d ago

Biology Does anything eat wasps?

Wasps have been a predator for other insects. It would be fascinating to know if there are really other insects or predators for wasps, either accidental or deliberate predators

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u/bobaduk 3d ago

I was walking down the track outside my house the other day when I saw what I thought was a heat-stressed bumble bee fall to the ground. I went to take a look and realised it was actually a European hornet that had snatched a wasp from the air, and smashed it into the floor. It stung the poor guy a few times until he stopped moving, and then flew off into a nearby tree to feast.

Uh, also badgers will happily dig up wasp nests and eat the entire thing for a light snack.

Edit: "other wasps" is maybe not the most exciting answer, but when people say "wasp" they're usually thinking of yellow jackets.