I noticed these 'wasps' feeding on honey dew on an aphid infested perennial ornamental herb.
It might be useful to add that prevailing temperature was 42 degree centigrade and many other members of the species were drinking water in a nearby water source.
Care to way in.
Yes wasps feed on honeydew. Most of Chalcids especially Encyrtids feed on honeydew and pollen. SInce 1992 I am working on Encyrtids and Aphelinids, therefore I met many times that these families members feed on honeydew.
I agree with George and Syed Sir. Adult wasps have tiny narrow waists which do not allow them to eat solid foods. Hence they can only eat liquid. Honeydew is their favourite food.
It have also been reported that an Aphidiid wasp also mimics ant behavior and trigger aphids to produce honeydew and takes the honeydew droplets directly form aphid anus. Check the link below:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20879920
I agree with George. I work with several species of encyrtid wasps, they feed on honeydew of psyllids and aphids.
- Badges
- Science method
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Ecology