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Why do monkeys seek out wasps?
Wasps are something humans and many other primates generally leave alone, yet in South America, capuchin monkeys actively seek out wasp nests. They’re after the larvae, which are packed full of protein, fat, vitamins and minerals, and easily digested, too. As the grubs are clustered together, a monkey raider can extract a lot of food in no time.
How the monkey gets around the angry adults depends on the wasp species. With Polistes wasps, tapping the nest repeatedly makes the colony leave. But with the extremely bellicose Chartergus, the only way is smash-and-grab: a monkey runs past, grabs a handful of nest and just keeps going, often trailing a cloud of furious wasps behind. It’s worth it, since the average nest has as much energy as a third of a Snickers chocolate bar – enough toAdrian Barnett
