Wasps are insects belonging to the order Hymenoptera, a diverse group that also includes ants and bees. Determining the appropriate term for a group of wasps is not always simple, as it depends heavily on the species and their behavior. The complexity stems from the vast number of wasp species, which exhibit a wide range of social structures. The correct collective noun requires understanding the context of why and how the wasps are gathered.
Collective Nouns and Context
The most commonly accepted collective nouns for a group of wasps are a “swarm,” a “nest,” or a “colony.” The appropriate term is often interchangeable but typically relates to the activity or location of the insects. A “swarm” describes a large, active group of wasps in flight, often observed when they are migrating or relocating. This term focuses on the number and movement of the insects.
The word “nest” refers specifically to the physical structure built by a group of wasps, such as the paper-like globes of hornets or the subterranean structures of yellow jackets. A “colony” refers to the community of living wasps inhabiting that structure, emphasizing the social unit and its cooperative nature. “Colony” is the most biologically accurate term for the established social community.
The Difference Between Solitary and Social Wasps
The application of a collective noun is dictated by the wasp’s classification as either solitary or social. The vast majority of the over 30,000 known wasp species are solitary, meaning they do not form organized groups or colonies. In these species, such as mud daubers or cicada killers, each female acts independently. She builds her own nest, provisions it with paralyzed prey, and lays her eggs without the help of others.
Solitary wasps have no true “group” beyond temporary aggregations around a resource or mating site. The female solitary wasp raises her offspring alone and does not share labor or defend a communal home.
In contrast, social wasps, which include yellow jackets, hornets, and paper wasps, exhibit eusocial behavior defined by cooperative brood care and a division of labor. These species belong to the family Vespidae and are the only ones that form true, organized colonies.
Anatomy of a Wasp Colony
A social wasp colony is defined by a highly structured caste system that ensures the survival of the community. This system is composed primarily of three distinct types: the Queen, the Workers, and the Males (Drones).
The Queen
The Queen is the reproductive female, responsible for founding the colony in the spring and laying all the eggs. She is the longest-living member, sometimes surviving for up to a year.
Workers
Workers are sterile female offspring that perform all the labor necessary for the colony’s maintenance and growth. Their duties include foraging for food, expanding the physical nest, and defending the territory. The nest itself is constructed from chewed wood fibers mixed with saliva, creating a durable, paper-like material that encases the hexagonal brood cells.
Males (Drones)
The male drones develop from unfertilized eggs and exist solely to mate with the new queens produced late in the season. Their lifespan is typically short, lasting only a few weeks until their reproductive purpose is fulfilled. The destiny of a female larva to become either a worker or a future queen is often determined by the quality or quantity of food she receives, or by dominance interactions among the adult females in the colony.