Paper wasps are social insects named for the paper-like material they use to construct their nests. They possess a slender body profile and are often brown with yellow markings, distinguished by their wings which fold lengthwise when resting. While generally less aggressive than yellow jackets, paper wasps will sting if their nest is disturbed. Their presence near homes is directly related to the availability of three necessities: food, shelter, and water.
Foraging Attractants (Food Sources)
Paper wasps maintain a dual diet that changes based on the colony’s needs and the season. Adult wasps rely primarily on carbohydrates, which fuel their daily activities and flight. These energy sources include nectar, honeydew (sugary secretions from aphids), and sweet liquids secreted by their own developing larvae.
This need for simple sugars makes human outdoor dining and waste significant attractants, especially when natural resources decline later in the summer. Adult workers are highly attracted to spilled sodas, fruit juices, fermenting fruit, and unattended sweet drinks. Open garbage bins and compost piles containing food waste also provide easy access to necessary carbohydrates.
The second component of the diet is protein, which is collected exclusively for the growing young, or larvae, within the nest. Adult workers hunt soft-bodied insects, such as caterpillars and flies, which they chew into a digestible protein mash. This predatory behavior makes them beneficial in gardens by controlling agricultural pests.
This protein requirement also leads them to scavenge meat scraps left outdoors, including picnic leftovers, pet food, and raw meat prepared for grilling. While the adult wasp consumes sugar, the protein is fed directly to the larvae. This maintains a mutual exchange where the larvae provide a sugary liquid back to the adults.
Nesting Site Requirements (Shelter and Materials)
Paper wasps seek locations that offer protection from the elements, especially wind and rain, to ensure the structural integrity of their nests. They build their characteristic umbrella-shaped nests in sheltered, elevated areas, mimicking their natural preference for tree branches. Common spots on human structures include the undersides of eaves, porch ceilings, exposed rafters, and beneath deck railings.
The construction material itself is a primary attractant, drawing them specifically to sources of cellulose. Paper wasps scrape and chew wood fibers from dead wood and plant stems, mixing the material with saliva to create a gray or brown paper pulp. This mixture hardens into the papery substance that forms the hexagonal cells of the brood comb.
The wasps prefer to harvest wood from weathered, untreated sources because the fibers are softer and easier to break down into a workable pulp. Particularly appealing sources include untreated lumber piles, old wooden fences, unpainted wooden siding, and dead plant stalks. The availability of these raw materials in a sheltered location directly influences where a queen establishes a new colony in the spring.
Essential Hydration Sources (Water)
Water is a non-negotiable resource for paper wasps, playing a dual role in individual survival and colony maintenance. Like all insects, they require water for basic hydration, a need intensified during hot, dry weather to regulate their body temperature. Foraging for water is a daily activity, and easily accessible sources consistently draw them to an area.
Beyond drinking, water is necessary for the nest-building process. Water is used to soften collected wood fibers, facilitating the grinding and mixing that transforms cellulose into the paper-like building material. Without a reliable source of water, the wasps cannot produce the pulp needed to expand their nest or repair damage.
Any standing water source near a structure can become an attractant. This includes bird baths, pet water bowls, swimming pool edges, leaking garden hoses, and condensation runoff from air conditioning units. By managing the availability of food, shelter, and water, homeowners can significantly reduce the appeal of an area to foraging and nesting paper wasps.