Wasps Feed Live Caterpillars to Young
Clip: Season 44 Episode 6 | 3m 15sVideo has Closed Captions
Why does a potter wasp seal living caterpillars inside her nest?
With winter fast approaching, a potter wasp races to complete her nursery. For her offspring, survival depends on every final detail — including the living caterpillars she captures and conceals inside the nest.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Major support for NATURE is provided by The Arnhold Family in memory of Henry and Clarisse Arnhold, Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III, The Fairweather Foundation, Charles Rosenblum, Kathy Chiao and...
Wasps Feed Live Caterpillars to Young
Clip: Season 44 Episode 6 | 3m 15sVideo has Closed Captions
With winter fast approaching, a potter wasp races to complete her nursery. For her offspring, survival depends on every final detail — including the living caterpillars she captures and conceals inside the nest.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Nature
Nature is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Buy Now
Explore More Ways to Watch
Bring the beauty and wonders of wildlife and natural history into your home with classic NATURE episodes.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipBut her job has only just begun.
(wasp buzzing) She must also fill the pot with food, so her offspring can develop and emerge in the spring.
That will require her to collect enough caterpillars while the weather holds.
(wasp buzzing) When she finds one, she paralyzes it with her sting, and then puts it into the pot alive.
(wasp buzzing) (wind blowing) But British weather is unreliable.
(thunder clapping) (rain pitter-pattering) (insect whooshing) She can't fly when it's cold and wet.
Time is slipping by.
(birds singing) The sun returns, but now time is very short.
(wasp buzzing) (wasp skittering) (caterpillar squishing) (wasp buzzing) (caterpillar squishing) With the season on the turn, she's not the only one in a hurry.
The caterpillars are getting restless.
(caterpillar squishing) They're making their way down to the ground to find somewhere to spend the winter.
She herself is almost out of time.
(wasp buzzing) Just one more.
But maybe one that is a little smaller.
(wasp buzzing) (wasps buzzing) With her pot now fully provisioned, she seals it.
(rain pitter-pattering) Just in time.
Preview of Parenthood "Grasslands"
Video has Closed Captions
Preview: S44 Ep6 | 30s | Animal parents must balance risk and reward to raise their young in grasslands. (30s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
- Science and Nature
Explore scientific discoveries on television's most acclaimed science documentary series.
Support for PBS provided by:
Major support for NATURE is provided by The Arnhold Family in memory of Henry and Clarisse Arnhold, Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III, The Fairweather Foundation, Charles Rosenblum, Kathy Chiao and...