What Are Paper Wasps?
Paper wasps are named for the papery nests they create with saliva and plant fibers. Although they may seem like a nuisance, Paper wasps are actually beneficial because they eat pests that harm agricultural crops. Does this Spark an idea?
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Identification
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Paper wasps are about ¾ to 1 inch in length. These waps have a narrow waist, and their color ranges from brown to black with yellow bands around their abdomen.
Habitat
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Paper wasps build grey paper-like nests that hang form a single stem with a single layer of cells. The nest may resemble a small umbrella in shape. The wasp nest will usually hang in a window or other place protected from rain.
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Misconceptions
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Paper wasps may resemble yellow jackets and baldfaced hornets, but they are in fact different. To distinguish the Paper wasp from other wasps, look at the nest. The nest of a Paper wasp is open. Other wasps generally build their nests in enclosed areas.
Diet
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Adult Paper wasps eat nectar and feed their young small insects, larvae and flies.
Castes
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Paper wasp colonies are divided into three castes: queens, workers and males.
Warning
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A Paper wasp can sting multiple times.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of bubble_gum
