Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: thedoc on 23/07/2012 07:30:02

Title: Why would wasps go through a hole backwards?
Post by: thedoc on 23/07/2012 07:30:02

Martin Fennell  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Hi,

Last night my wife woke me to rid our bedroom of a queen wasp.

I trapped it between the wall and the lid of an old babies bottle, steam sterilizer.

The lid had holes in the top to allow the steam to escape, that the wasp made a beeline (sic) for.

I noticed the wasp attempted to get out of the hole backwards (sting first).

I was wondering if this is normal wasp behaviour as I sort of expected it to try head first?

Thanks for a great show. (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/)

Martin Fennell

What do you think?

Title: Re: Why would wasps go through a hole backwards?
Post by: Don_1 on 23/07/2012 10:53:34

I can't say as I've ever heard of this and quick search of the internet reveals nothing at all, so I'll just have to surmise.

The wasp would have been able to see a potential threat outside the bottle (you) and therefore wanted to come out weapons first to deliver a sting if need bee (so sorry).