darázsfélék

Darázsfélék is the Hungarian word for the family Vespidae, commonly known as true wasps. This family belongs to the order Hymenoptera, which also includes bees and ants. True wasps are characterized by their slender bodies, narrow waists (petioles), and generally smooth, un-haired exoskeletons, distinguishing them from bees. They are found worldwide and encompass a diverse range of species, from the well-known social wasps like yellowjackets and hornets to solitary wasps.

Social wasps are perhaps the most recognizable members of Vespidae. These species live in colonies with a queen, workers, and drones. They construct nests, often from chewed wood pulp mixed with saliva, which can be found underground, in trees, or attached to buildings. The colony's primary goal is to raise young, and workers forage for food, defend the nest, and maintain its structure. Their diet typically consists of insects, which they paralyze and bring back to the nest for their larvae. Adults often feed on nectar and other sugary substances.

Solitary wasps, also part of Vespidae, do not live in colonies. Each female builds and provisions her own nest, laying a single egg in each cell. They hunt specific prey, such as caterpillars or spiders, paralyzing them to provide a food source for their developing offspring. Once a cell is provisioned, it is sealed, and the female moves on to create another. Many solitary wasps are important predators in their ecosystems, helping to control populations of other invertebrates. While some species can sting defensively, true wasps are generally not aggressive unless their nests are threatened.