by hannahWhat Do Wasps Eat? Top Foods That Attract Wasps
Wasps are a common sight in the UK, particularly during the warmer months in late spring and summer. While they might look like bees, they’re very different.
As leaders in wasp pest control in Milton Keynes, BH Pest Control understands their behaviour and what wasps feed on. We’re always happy to advise on wasps and what food they eat.
While wasps have a bad reputation, especially when compared to bees, they are actually important insects that form a key part of our ecosystem. They have a varied diet and can eat anything from flower nectar to insect prey such as aphids and other invertebrates.
So, what do wasps eat? BH Pest Control shares our insight into wasp behaviour and how you can avoid attracting them.
What Different Species Of Wasps Eat
There are two main factors that influence what wasps eat: their species and their life cycle stage. When it comes to species, the most common in the UK is the common wasp, also known as Vespula vulgaris or the yellow jacket, because of its black and yellow body.
There are 3 main wasp categories: solitary wasps, social wasps and parasitic wasps. Most wasp species found in the UK, including common wasps, German wasps and European hornets, are social wasps, meaning that they live in nests with other wasps.
Solitary wasps tend to live alone and are from the genus Ectemnius, which includes Ectemnius cavifrons. These wasps are rare in the UK but are found.
Finally, there are parasitic wasps, which don’t sting humans, but instead lay eggs inside other insects and then eat them alive. While there are over 6000 species of parasitic wasps found in the UK, they don’t bother humans and aren’t usually classed as pests. In fact, because they eat many insects that can kill plants and crops, they’re considered a natural form of pest control.
Here are some of the foods eaten by some of the most common pest wasp species found in the UK:
| Wasp Species | Preferred Food Sources |
| Common Wasps (Vespula vulgaris) | Adults consume nectar, and larvae eat insect prey such as aphids and crickets. |
| German Wasps (Vespula germanica) | Known to eat almost anything, ranging from nectar to insects, sweet foods and even rubbish. |
| European Hornets (Vespa crabro) | Primarily carnivorous, adults hunt for insects for their larvae. The larvae produce a sweet substance that the adult wasps eat alongside insects, human food and plant-based food sources such as nectar and fruit. |
| Paper Wasps (Polistes dominula) | Paper wasps eat nectar, and their larvae eat insects collected by worker wasps. They don’t eat paper, as the name suggests, but instead scrape wood pulp from houses and other structures to build nests. |
What Wasps Eat At Different Life Cycle Stages
As highlighted above, different species have different diets depending on their life cycle stage. Wasps have four life cycle stages: egg, larva, pupa (cocoon) and adult. Here’s what most wasps eat during every stage of their lives:
| Life Cycle Stage | Preferred Food Sources |
| Eggs | Nothing |
| Larval Stage | Wasp larvae eat meat and insects provided by adult wasps, including aphids, spiders and other invertebrates, as well as occasional dead animal meat if the adults find it. |
| Pupal Stage | Nothing |
| Adult Stage | Adult wasps mostly eat nectar, honeysuckle, fruit and other plant-based foods. In many species, larvae produce a sweet liquid that the adults consume. |
As you can see, wasps are inactive during the egg and pupal stages, and don’t eat. The larval stage is when they tend to eat the most, as this is when they eat a lot of protein provided by the worker wasps, to help them be able to grow and enter the pupal stage.
Once hatched, wasps will become one of three types: worker wasps, queens or drones. Workers are infertile females who will work to help find food for the queen and the young wasps in the larval stage. Drones are male wasps who will only live long enough to mate with the queen. Queen wasps are the only fertile females allowed in the colony, and can live for up to a year, as they will hibernate in the winter, and new queens that have hatched will move on to build their own nest.
Are Wasps Attracted To Human Food?
Wasps are attracted to human food. Depending on the species, they might be attracted by sugary foods or drinks, or meat such as burgers.
In the summer months, if you’re eating outside, then you might find you attract wasps. Many wasps found in the UK are a social species, and many aren’t afraid to come near humans.
If the food you’re eating is part of a wasp’s diet, they will come near and may land on your plate or food. As wasps also land on rubbish, animal droppings and carcasses, they can contaminate food, spreading bacteria that could cause food poisoning or other health issues.
How To Avoid Attracting Wasps
In the UK, the wasp season runs between early spring and late summer, when the weather is warmer and the worker wasps leave the nest to expand the nest and find food to feed growing larvae. Some simple ways to prevent wasps from causing issues include:
- Store Rubbish In Sealed Containers: Make sure that your bins aren’t open and that wasps don’t have access to rubbish. The easiest way to reduce the chances of a wasp problem is to seal off their food sources, and rubbish is practically a feast for wasps and other insects, such as flies.
- Keep Food Covered: When you’re eating outside during the summer, make sure you keep your food covered and don’t leave it unattended. Avoid leaving BBQs and sugary liquids, such as alcohol or fizzy drinks, unattended.
- Remove Old Pet Or Bird Food: Bird food or meals for outdoor pets, such as chickens or rabbits, can attract wasps, as well as other pests such as rats, so make sure you remove them once used or keep them covered when not in use.
How To Deal With A Wasp Infestation
If you notice wasps flying around your garden or even inside your home, the best thing to do is to avoid them and stay away. Wasps will only sting when they feel threatened, so if you avoid them, they should go about their business pollinating local plants.
However, if you see wasps flying regularly through your property, always going to the same area, then you should follow them and check if there is a nest. Wasp nests look like globular papier-mâché structures, which are often found hanging in eaves or from walls.
As soon as you see a wasp nest, you need to contact a local pest control company that specialises in wasp nest removal, like BH Pest Control.
It’s important that you don’t try and remove the wasp nest yourself, as the wasps may sting. If you or someone nearby is allergic to wasps, wasp stings can cause allergic reactions or even anaphylactic shock.
You also can’t leave a wasp nest, because wasps only use their nests once per season, and will then build a new nest. Old nests can become habitats for other insects and cause structural damage to your property due to their weight.
Experts like the team at BH Pest Control will wear protective clothing and use cutting-edge equipment that’s not available to the general public, so you can rest assured that the wasp infestation is fully gone.
What Do Wasps Eat? Conclusion
At the end of the day, wasps eat almost anything, and the different species or life cycle stages will have different diets.
Still, because they can sting without dying, unlike bees, this makes wasps dangerous, especially if they build a nest inside your home or outbuildings.
Wasps like to build nests in tight spaces, such as inside chimneys, wall cavities or garden sheds. This means that it can be challenging to remove wasp nests without causing property damage.
BH Pest Control has the expertise needed to remove wasp nests and get rid of your wasp problem for good. If you’re based in or around Milton Keynes, our team can carry out domestic and commercial wasp removal.
Alongside wasps, we can also get rid of other insects and garden pests, including ants, cockroaches, flies, moths and more.
As soon as you notice wasps on your property, contact us on 01908 412488 or by emailing info@bhpestcontrol.com.