Temperment: Aggressive
Habit: Social
Nest Location: Above-ground
Food: Insects, rotting fruit, sweet liquids
Description:
Paper wasps are very common. They are reddish-brown to dark brown with a slender build and have long, thin legs. Paper wasps build the common single-tiered circle of gray, papery nest cells, which resemble a honey comb when viewed from below. These nests are small, seldom reaching four inches in diameter, and are attached by a short, narrow stalk in the center of the nest. They are usually found in shaded areas, such as under eaves or overhanging window sashes, but sometimes will be located in hedges and frequently inside unused equipment, sheds or barns. The nests are begun in the spring by single queen who rears the workers. The workers in turn take over the responsibility for enlarging the nest.
Paper wasps, hornets and yellow jackets are the common, troublesome wasps. They capture insects to feed their young throughout the summer. In the late fall, they stop rearing their young and concentrate on feeding on
flower nectar and other sweet liquids. This is when they become serious nuisances around back yards, picnic areas, soda machines and other places where beverages or foods containing sugar are found. In addition to the
change in their food habits, colonies have reached peak numbers and encounters with people become more frequent. Paper wasps are not as quickly angered as yellow jackets, but they do not hesitate to sting if their
nest is molested.
Special Notes: Single individuals frequently wander inside houses through chimneys, espcially in the early spring or late fall.
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