Yellow Jackets Harvesting Seeds (HD Video)

[Precarious]

I caught these Yellow Jackets pulling the seeds from the pods of a Bleeding Heart bush and eating the meaty fruit attached. Check out their little hands as they grip the seeds.

 

[LauraMG]

That's unbelievable! Nice catch with the camera!

 

[robo mantis]

The meat on the seed is called an elaiosome. It is very sweet tasting to ants and wasps. It is also high in protein/fat. It is how the seeds spread. Mostly ants eat these. The ants carry the seed back to the nest to eat the elaiosome. Then when they are done eating the elaiosome they try cracking the seed. The seed is very hard and they can't. So they throw the seed in the garbage room with all sorts of decaying matter which acts as compost and that helps the plants spread and grow. Many other species of spring blooming plants do it also.

 

[JoeCapricorn]

It looks so cute how it holds the seed thingy with its cute little bug paws!