A wasp nest provides shelter and a nursery for developing wasps. These intricate structures, often recognized by their papery appearance, are central to a wasp colony. The entire process of nest creation and colony growth begins with a single individual, transforming from a solitary effort into a thriving community.
The Founder Queen
The life cycle of a wasp colony is initiated by a fertilized queen wasp. As winter approaches, the vast majority of a wasp colony perishes, leaving only the newly fertilized queens to survive. These queens seek sheltered locations, such as hollow logs, tree bark, wall cavities, or attics, to enter a state of hibernation known as diapause. During this period, their metabolic rate significantly slows, allowing them to conserve energy and survive on stored fat reserves. With the arrival of spring, the queen emerges from hibernation. Her primary objective is to find a suitable, secure location to establish a new nest. This solitary queen then undertakes building the initial nest structure and laying the first eggs, which will eventually hatch into her first generation of workers.
Initial Nest Construction
The queen begins nest construction by identifying a favorable site, often a sheltered area like under roof eaves, in sheds, attics, or trees. She then gathers wood fibers from weathered wood. Using her strong mandibles, she scrapes off bits of wood and chews them, mixing the fibers with her saliva to create a paste-like substance. This mixture dries into a lightweight yet durable paper-like material. The queen constructs the foundational elements of the nest. She often starts by building a small stalk, called a petiole, which anchors the nest to a surface. Around this central point, she forms the first few hexagonal cells. These six-sided cells are an efficient design, maximizing space while using minimal material. As she builds these initial cells, she also constructs a protective outer envelope, which will enclose the developing structure and help insulate the nest. The initial nest is small, often the size of a walnut or golf ball.
The First Generation of Workers
Once the initial cells are constructed, the queen lays a single egg in each. These eggs are small and whitish. After about 5 to 8 days, the eggs hatch into larvae, which are small, white, and grub-like. During this larval stage, the queen is responsible for foraging for food, such as insects and sugary substances, to feed her developing offspring. The larvae grow, molting several times over approximately 15 days. Following their growth, the larvae spin a silken cap over their cells and enter the pupal stage. During pupation, they undergo a complete transformation, developing into adult wasps. The first wasps to emerge are sterile female workers, typically around 30 days after the queen started caring for the young. Their arrival marks a shift in the colony’s development. These new workers take over foraging for food, expanding the nest, and caring for subsequent broods. This allows the queen to focus solely on laying eggs, accelerating the growth of the colony.