“Buzz Battle: The Great Golden Digger Wasp Challenge”

1. Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the nesting behavior of the great golden digger wasp?

• A. They nest in colonies with a shared tunnel system
  
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• B. They reuse the burrows of other insects

• C. Each female independently digs her own nest in sandy soil

• D. Males construct nests and defend them from other males

Answer explanation

Correct Answer: C
✅ Each female digs her own burrow, typically in loose, sandy soil. These are solitary wasps—not social insects—so they do not form colonies.

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2. Multiple Choice

What is the ecological significance of the great golden digger wasp in a grassland or garden ecosystem?

• A. They reduce pollinator populations

• B. They contribute to soil aeration and pest control

• C. They serve as primary predators of mammals

• D. They are major seed dispersers

Answer explanation

Correct Answer: B
✅ Their burrowing helps aerate soil, and their hunting behavior controls populations of pest insects like katydids and crickets.

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3. True or False

The great golden digger wasp stings and kills its prey immediately before burying it with its eggs.

Answer explanation

Correct Answer: False
❌ Incorrect. The wasp stings and paralyzes the prey (usually a katydid or cricket) but does not kill it. This ensures the larva has fresh food when it hatches.

4. Multiple Choice

Which statement about sexual dimorphism in great golden digger wasps is accurate?

• A. Males are significantly larger and dig tunnels

• B. Females are larger and perform all the provisioning and burrowing

• C. Both sexes hunt prey equally

• D. Only males possess wings

Answer explanation

Correct Answer: B
✅ Females are larger because they must subdue prey and dig burrows. Males do not hunt or dig; they focus on mating.

5. True or False

The adult great golden digger wasp primarily feeds on the bodily fluids of its insect prey.

Answer explanation

Correct Answer: False
❌ Adults feed on nectar from flowers and are important incidental pollinators. The larva consumes the paralyzed prey placed in the nest.

6. Multiple Choice

Which prey item is most commonly targeted by the great golden digger wasp for its larval provisions?

• A. Aphids
  

• B. Beetles

• C. Katydids, grasshopper, and crickets

• D. Honeybees

Answer explanation

Correct Answer: C
✅ These wasps specialize in Orthopterans such as katydids and crickets, which are paralyzed and placed in the nest as food for developing larvae.

7. Scenario Analysis

If a population of great golden digger wasps declined due to pesticide use, what would be a likely ecological consequence?

• A. Increase in predatory bird populations

• B. Decrease in bee populations

• C. Increase in herbivorous insect populations like crickets

• D. Decrease in flowering plant reproduction

Answer explanation

Correct Answer: C
✅ Without the wasps, populations of prey insects (like crickets) would likely rise, potentially causing more damage to vegetation.

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8. True or False

The great golden digger wasp stings and kills its prey immediately before burying it with its eggs.

Answer explanation

False: The wasp paralyzes (not kills) the prey so it stays fresh for the developing larva.

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9. Multiple Choice

Why do great golden digger wasps sometimes "inspect" their nests before sealing them permanently?

• A. To retrieve prey that was too small
  

• B. To ensure no parasites or predators have entered

• C. To reuse the same prey multiple times

• D. To wait for rain to soften the soil

Answer explanation

Correct Answer: B
✅ Wasp mothers are careful to avoid parasitism (e.g., by cuckoo wasps or flies) and check their nests before sealing to prevent others from laying eggs inside.

10. 10. True or False

11. A female great golden digger wasp may dig multiple nest burrows in a single season.

Answer explanation

Answer: True
✅ Correct! Females can create and provision several nests throughout their adult lives.

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