Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
Common Wasps are the most common and widespread wasp in Britain. They are social insects that build rounded paper nests and there are different types of wasps in the colony that have different job. The workers are most commonly seen, which are black or brown with yellow markings. The reproductive queens have the same marking but are much bigger.
Habitats
Common Wasps are found in woodland, parkland and gardens, where they build nests in tree hollows, in old burrows, in loft spaces or any other crevices.
Behaviour
Common Wasps build their nest with chewed wood fibres, which they scrap away from trees and timber using their strong jaws. This is mixed with saliva to make a moist pulp that dries in the sun. Unlike bees, wasps are not killed once they sting. This is because wasp stings are barbless so they can be withdrawn and used again.
Breeding
Female queens start building nests in spring where she layers her first eggs. These hatch as larvae and later develop into workers, which expand the nest for the queen to lay more eggs. A finished nest may contain 5,000–10,000 individuals. At the onset of winter the colony produces reproductive males (drones) which fly away and mate with other queens. The workers and drones die but the queens hibernate and emerge the following spring and the cycle continues.
Feeding
Common wasps collect insects to feed to its larvae. The adults feed on nectar and sweet fruit.