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Quiz about Its a Sting in the Tail
Quiz about Its a Sting in the Tail

It's a Sting in the Tail Trivia Quiz


I dislike wasps, so I thought I'd learn a little more about them and share the knowledge. Hope you learn something new too! This is a quiz about social wasps. Hope you enjoy it.

A multiple-choice quiz by juliewalls. Estimated time: 3 mins.
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Author
juliewalls
Time
3 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
290,068
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
824
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. What is the Latin name of the common wasp? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. All social wasps are black and yellow.


Question 3 of 10
3. Which wasps can sting? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Male wasps come from unfertilised eggs.


Question 5 of 10
5. What is a suitable nest site for a common wasp? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. A wasp is buzzing around your head, really annoying you. What should you do? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. We have all seen wasps hovering over our drinks and sweet foods. Why do they do this? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. A wasp sting is alkaline.


Question 9 of 10
9. Wasp nests are used for many years.


Question 10 of 10
10. Wasps are a waste of space and should be wiped out.



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 26 2024 : Guest 86: 6/10
Feb 25 2024 : Guest 68: 5/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What is the Latin name of the common wasp?

Answer: Vespula Vulgaris

There are several species of social wasps of which the common wasp is one. Vespula rufa is known as the red wasp and tends to nest underground. Vespa crabro is the largest of the social wasps - the hornet. It is mainly a southern species and nests in trees. The Vespula austriaca is known as the cuckoo wasp. It has no workers and lays its eggs in other species nests - hence the name.
2. All social wasps are black and yellow.

Answer: False

Although most of the social wasps are black and yellow, the largest - the hornet - is actually yellow and brown.
3. Which wasps can sting?

Answer: The females

The female is the only wasp that can sting. The sting itself is an adapted ovipositor, the organ with which the female insect lays her eggs. As males don't lay eggs - they don't have one.
4. Male wasps come from unfertilised eggs.

Answer: True

Strangely, only female wasps come from fertilised eggs. Sperm cells from mating are stored inside the queen over winter whilst she hibernates. In spring she uses the sperm to create female workers to increase the colony's size. At the end of the summer, she runs out of sperm and the fertile male wasps are then produced to fertilise the fertile females and begin the cycle again.
5. What is a suitable nest site for a common wasp?

Answer: All of these

The fertilised queen, on her own in spring, will make a small nest from wood pulp which she chews and mixes with her saliva. She will lay the female fertilised eggs in this nest. They will then emerge as workers and continue to build the nest and feed the larvae, leaving her to her main function as egg layer.
6. A wasp is buzzing around your head, really annoying you. What should you do?

Answer: Ignore it

A wasp is unlikely to sting you unless you wave your arms about screaming. Killing the wasp would actually be a very bad idea because as it dies it releases a pheromone which acts as an alarm to other wasps in the area. This is also released if the wasp stings.

Other wasps in the area become more aggressive and go to investigate. So it's a particularly bad idea to kill a wasp near its nest!
7. We have all seen wasps hovering over our drinks and sweet foods. Why do they do this?

Answer: Adult social wasps live solely on sugars

Adult social wasps live on sugars. They often attempt to invade honey bee nests and steal their honey. The wasp larvae actually produce a sweet substance for the adults to eat but in late summer the queen stops laying so the adults have to find their sugar elsewhere. This is why they seem more annoying in late summer.
8. A wasp sting is alkaline.

Answer: False

In actual fact, a wasp sting is more or less neutral with a pH of around 6.8. (Information from Keele University and Timesonline)
The best treatment for a wasp sting is to wash the area with soap and water and apply an ice pack. You can also apply antihistamine cream to reduce the itching, or take an antihistamine tablet or liquid. If it is very painful, take a painkiller.
9. Wasp nests are used for many years.

Answer: False

Wasp colonies only use their nest for one year. They tend to be very fragile and cannot withstand the winter weather. Towards autumn the queen will start to lay the fertile male and female eggs. These will then mate and the fertile females will leave the nest. The colony declines quickly after this and dies out as food becomes scarce.
10. Wasps are a waste of space and should be wiped out.

Answer: False

Surprisingly, wasps are really quite useful! They feed their thousands of larvae on masticated insects, including caterpillars and aphids, which are often harmful to crops and gardens. The wasp larvae all have a largely protein diet so that's quite a lot of insects. They are also pollinators, not to the same extent as bees obviously, but they do land on flowers and spread the pollen.
Source: Author juliewalls

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
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