When most people think about honey, they immediately picture bees buzzing around flowers, gathering nectar, and returning to their hives to produce the sweet golden liquid. But wasps are also common visitors to gardens, often mistaken for bees, and this raises a natural question: do wasps make honey too?
The short answer is no, most wasps do not make honey. Unlike honeybees, wasps have very different survival strategies and do not need to store large quantities of food to last through winter. However, there are fascinating exceptions—some rare wasp species actually do produce a form of honey. To understand why, we need to explore how wasps live, what they eat, and how their life cycles differ from bees.
Do Wasps Make Honey?
In general, wasps do not make honey. While bees are famous for collecting nectar, processing it into honey, and storing it in hives, wasps don’t follow the same behavior. Instead, they survive by hunting insects, feeding on nectar directly, and relying on seasonal food sources.
Most wasp colonies only last for a single year. By the time winter arrives, the colony dies, leaving only new queens to survive until spring. Since the colony does not continue into the cold season, there is no need for wasps to store honey as a long-term food supply.
Why Wasps Don’t Make Honey
To understand why wasps don’t produce honey, it helps to look at their biology and colony structure:
- Short-Lived Colonies: Unlike honeybee hives, which can survive year after year, most wasp colonies last only one season. Workers die off when cold weather arrives, and only fertilized queens hibernate and start new colonies in spring.
- Different Diets: Wasps are predators as well as nectar feeders. They hunt flies, caterpillars, and other insects to feed their larvae. Nectar provides quick energy for adults, but they don’t process it into honey.
- No Need for Food Storage: Since colonies collapse each winter, wasps don’t need long-term food reserves. Honeybees, in contrast, rely on stored honey to keep the colony alive when flowers are scarce.
This fundamental difference explains why honeybees evolved as food storers, while wasps evolved as hunters and opportunistic feeders.
Wasps vs. Bees: Key Differences in Honey Production
Although wasps and bees share similarities—they both collect nectar and play roles in pollination—their survival strategies are very different.
| Feature | Bees | Wasps |
| Honey Production | Produce and store honey for winter survival | Do not produce honey (with rare exceptions) |
| Diet | Nectar and pollen | Nectar + insects for larvae |
| Colony Life | Perennial, survives multiple years | Seasonal, dies out in winter |
| Role in Ecosystem | Pollinators, honey producers | Pest control, minor pollination |
This comparison highlights why honey is central to bee survival but unnecessary for wasps.
Do Any Wasps Produce Honey?
Surprisingly, the answer is yes—though only a few species. The most famous example is the Mexican Honey Wasp (Brachygastra mellifica).
These wasps are found in Mexico, Central America, and parts of the southern United States. Unlike most wasp species, their colonies are more stable and capable of storing nectar. They convert this nectar into a type of honey, much like bees do, although in much smaller amounts.
Humans have harvested this honey traditionally in some regions. It is edible and said to have a slightly different taste compared to bee honey. While it’s not produced on a commercial scale, it remains a fascinating natural curiosity that shows not all wasps follow the same rules.
Mexican Honey Wasp: A Closer Look
The Mexican honey wasp (Brachygastra mellifica) is one of the rare wasp species that actually makes and stores honey. These insects are native to Mexico, Central America, and parts of southern Texas, where warmer climates allow colonies to survive longer than typical wasp nests.
Unlike most wasps, their colonies can persist across seasons and are highly organized. They collect nectar from flowers, store it, and convert it into a substance very similar to bee honey. While they don’t produce nearly as much as bees, the honey they create is edible and has been used by indigenous communities in Central America for centuries as a food source and even in traditional medicine.
The nests of Mexican honey wasps can be quite large, sometimes housing thousands of individuals. They build their nests in trees, forming grayish, papery structures that resemble giant footballs. Inside, the honey is stored in wax-like cells, similar to those seen in bee hives.
What Do Wasps Eat Instead of Honey?
If most wasps don’t make honey, what fuels their energy and survival? The diet of wasps is actually quite diverse:
- Nectar: Adult wasps consume nectar from flowers for quick energy. This is why you often see them hovering around blossoms.
- Insects: Wasps are natural predators. They hunt flies, caterpillars, and other pests to feed their developing larvae.
- Sugary Foods: Wasps are opportunistic eaters. In late summer, when natural food sources decline, they are often attracted to ripe fruits, soda, or other sugary human foods.
- Seasonal Shifts: In spring and summer, protein from insects is essential for larvae. Later in the year, adults rely more heavily on carbohydrates like nectar and fruit.
This combination of nectar and prey explains why wasps can thrive without honey. Unlike bees, they don’t need to prepare large food reserves for the winter.
Why Do People Think Wasps Make Honey?
The confusion between bees and wasps is understandable. Both are flying insects with similar body shapes, and both are seen visiting flowers. There are a few reasons why people assume wasps might make honey:
- Visual Similarity: Many wasps have yellow and black stripes like bees, leading to mistaken identity.
- Nectar Feeding: Since wasps are often spotted drinking nectar, it seems logical they might also store it.
- Mexican Honey Wasps: The existence of honey-producing wasps adds to the myth that all wasps do the same.
- General Misunderstanding: People are more familiar with bees, and it’s easy to assume that all similar insects share their habits.
Are Wasps Useful Without Making Honey?
Even though wasps don’t generally produce honey, they are extremely valuable in ecosystems. Their benefits include:
- Pest Control: Wasps are natural predators of crop-damaging insects like caterpillars, aphids, and flies. Farmers often benefit from their presence in fields.
- Pollination: While not as efficient as bees, wasps do contribute to pollination when they visit flowers for nectar.
- Ecosystem Balance: By keeping insect populations in check, they maintain balance within ecosystems.
Despite their reputation for being aggressive, wasps play a crucial role in controlling pests and supporting biodiversity.
Can Humans Eat Wasp Honey?
Yes, honey produced by the Mexican honey wasp is safe for humans to eat. It is less commonly available than bee honey, but it has been harvested and consumed traditionally. Some describe its flavor as slightly different, sometimes less sweet or more tangy than bee honey.
However, wasp honey is not widely farmed or sold commercially. This is partly because Mexican honey wasp colonies are harder to manage than bee hives and partly because they produce less honey overall. For this reason, it remains more of a regional delicacy than a global commodity.
FAQs
Do all wasps eat nectar?
Most adult wasps eat nectar, fruits, or sugary liquids for energy, but their larvae are typically fed on insects or protein-rich foods provided by the adults.
What is the difference between wasp honey and bee honey?
Wasp honey is produced in much smaller amounts, primarily by Mexican honey wasps. Bee honey is more abundant, widely farmed, and has a consistent sweet flavor.
Where can you find Mexican honey wasps?
They are native to Mexico, Central America, and southern parts of Texas. Their large papery nests are often found hanging from tree branches.
Are wasps beneficial like bees?
Yes. Wasps are essential for pest control, preying on insects that damage crops. They also pollinate flowers, though less effectively than bees.
Why don’t wasps need honey to survive winter?
Most wasp colonies die in winter, leaving only queens to hibernate. Because the colony doesn’t survive as a group, they don’t need stored honey like bees do.