Most Wasps Are Carnivores, but One Group Feeds on Pollen

question 61

Multiple Choice

Most wasps are carnivores, but one group feeds on pollen and nectar and pollinates the flowers they visit. Wasps are less efficient than bees at pollination because their bodies are not covered with fuzzy hairs and therefore, pollen is less likely to stick to them. But masarine wasps specialize in pollinating certain species, including beardtongues (Penstemon sp.) . Given this information, how will the costs and benefits of masarine wasp-plant mutualisms likely compare to those of bee-plant mutualisms?

• A) Costs and benefits will be about the same for both mutualisms.
• B) Wasp-plant mutualisms will have higher costs and higher benefits.
• C) Wasp-plant mutualisms will have higher costs and lower benefits.
• D) Wasp-plant mutualisms will have lower costs and lower benefits.