Question

Cerceris digger wasps dig burrows in the ground that are used for what purpose?

1) As a shelter for their eggs
2) To store food
3) To hibernate during winter
4) To catch prey

Answer 1

Cerceris digger wasps use burrows as a shelter for their eggs and to store food for their larvae. Like many other species, these burrows are crucial for the protection and nurturing of offspring, underlining the wasps' reproductive strategy.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cerceris digger wasps dig burrows in the ground primarily to serve as a shelter for their eggs. However, these burrows have multiple purposes and can also be employed by the wasps to store food, in particular, paralyzed prey which they catch to feed their developing larvae. This is somewhat akin to the behavioural adaptation observed in other species like parasitoid wasps, which lay their eggs inside hosts. Similarly, birds and other animals create nests or shelters to secure a place for their young, ensuring protection, development, and an initial food supply.

While digger wasps do not typically hibernate during the winter in these burrows, the multi-functional nature of these structures illustrates a complex behaviour aimed at the survival and nurturing of offspring. As such, the primary purpose of the burrows made by Cerceris digger wasps is related to reproductive success and progeny development.