Compared to a honeybee, why does a wasp visit a flower?
Answer
To obtain nectar solely as self-sustaining fuel for hunting protein
Although both wasps and honeybees visit flowers, their primary nutritional motivations differ significantly. A honeybee visits primarily to collect both nectar (energy) and pollen (protein) to provision its offspring. In contrast, the wasp's visit to the same flower is purely utilitarian concerning the nectar. The wasp seeks the flower's nectar strictly as an immediate, self-sustaining fuel source—a high-energy liquid that powers its own body systems. This energy is necessary so the wasp can execute its primary mission, which is actively hunting down and securing the high-protein prey required specifically for feeding the colony's developing brood.

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