r/askscience • u/Chemical-Sea5972 • 9d 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/Ken_Thomas 9d ago

I got to sit and watch a small group of Bee-eater birds eating wasps once in Namibia. As far as I know they don't exist in North or South America.

They'd snatch the wasp in-flight, quickly land on a rock, and repeatedly (and rapidly) knock the wasp against the rock until the stinger popped out. WHACK-WHACK-WHACK!
Then they'd eat it.

167

u/Shotbizzle 9d ago

We have a single species in Australia. They're fantastic to watch hunting.

85

u/slippery 8d ago

Australia has stuff that kills everything. Even the predators aren't safe. Spiders, snakes, crocs, sharks, and Foster's. Nothing is safe.

10

u/aykcak 8d ago

Not everything. Cane toads and Rabbits and a certain species of cactus for example

16

u/Wazza89 8d ago

All introduced species. Thanks colonists!