Paper Wasp: What They Look Like and How to Get Rid of Them
Paper wasps, a type of vespid wasp, have always fascinated me with their unique nest-building abilities. They gather fibers from dead wood and plant stems, which they mix with saliva to create nests made of gray or brown papery material.
A paper wasp is an insect belonging to the subfamily Polistinae, which includes social wasps that construct their nests from paper-like material. They are found throughout North America and are known for their aggressive nature when their colony is disturbed.
As an avid gardener, I’ve noticed that paper wasps play an important role in pollination. While they may not be as well-known as bees for this function, these insects still contribute significantly to the pollination of plants.
Despite their benefits, paper wasps can sometimes be problematic. They’re known to build their nests in various locations, such as eaves, attics, garages, or bushes, which can be bothersome to humans.
The lifecycle of a paper wasp starts with a mated queen that survives the winter. She then builds a small nest out of paper fibers that she extracts from wood and plant stems. The queen lays eggs in the cells of the nest and the larvae that hatch are fed by the queen.
When it comes to identifying paper wasps, there are a few key characteristics to look out for.
One of the most distinctive features of a paper wasp is their slender body shape. They have a long, thin waist and long legs that dangle as they fly