What life stage is indicated by the holes drilled by wood wasps?

The correct answer is C, the egg-laying stage. Wood wasps, which are known for their ability to drill holes into wood, typically do this as part of their reproductive process. These holes serve as a way for the female wasp to lay her eggs inside the wood, where the larvae will eventually develop. The action of drilling is specifically linked to creating an environment conducive for the offspring’s early growth.

During the egg-laying stage, the female seeks out suitable wood that can provide both shelter and nutrition for her developing larvae. After the eggs are laid inside the host wood, the larvae will continue to feed and grow inside the wood, which may explain the holes that are commonly observed afterward. Thus, this key behavior directly reflects the egg-laying stage of the wood wasps’ life cycle.