What specific substance excreted by pests provides simple sugars for adults?
Answer
Honeydew produced by aphids
Adult wasps require easily accessible carbohydrates for sustained energy for daily activities like foraging and construction. While flower nectar is a primary natural source, another significant source of simple sugars comes indirectly from pests themselves. Certain insects, notably aphids, excrete a sweet, sugary substance as a byproduct of feeding on plant sap. This excretion, known specifically as honeydew, is sought out and consumed by foraging adult wasps as an efficient source of energy, supplementing the sugars they get directly from flowers.
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