TED-ED: Licking bees and pulping trees: The reign of a wasp queen - Kenny Coogan

The video follows the life cycle of a wasp queen, from her emergence in spring to the establishment of a new colony. It details her challenges, such as finding food and building a nest, and highlights the role of wasps in the ecosystem. As the colony grows, workers take over duties, allowing the queen to focus on laying eggs. The video concludes with the preparation of a new generation of queens and the decline of the hive as winter approaches.

What challenges do wasp queens face during hibernation?

• Lack of food

• Diseases

• Predators and climate change

• Competition from other queens

How does the wasp queen initially sustain herself after emerging from hibernation?

• By hunting small insects

• By feeding on honey bee hives

• By relying on worker wasps

• By consuming stored food

What is the primary role of the first generation of wasp workers?

• To lay eggs

• To defend the hive

• To hibernate

• To forage and build the nest

In what way do wasps contribute to agriculture?

• By deterring birds

• By fertilizing soil

• By producing honey

• By pollinating crops and controlling pests

What happens to the wasp colony as autumn approaches?

• The queen lays more eggs

• The hive's organization deteriorates

• The colony migrates to a warmer area

• The workers become more organized

What is the fate of the male wasps, or drones, after mating?

• They hibernate with the queens

• They establish new colonies

• They continue to work in the hive

• They die shortly after mating

Where do the new queens spend the winter after leaving the hive?

• In the old hive

• In underground burrows

• In a new nest

• In a woodpile