How Do Wasps Turn Into Hornets?
WouterUnlike bees, which are furry creatures, wasps are smooth and hairless. These insects build hanging nests on branches and structures. The nests are made of wood fibers or pulp.
Most wasps live in colonies that have one queen. The queen is responsible for laying eggs. After the queen dies, the nest will break apart. However, some colonies may have more than one queen.
Adult worker wasps lay eggs as well as the queen. These wereps also collect food for the larvae. They take care of the larvae until they are ready to pupate. When food is no longer available, workers cannibalize their larval siblings.
The social structure of wasp colonies breaks down in the fall. Queen wasps are not able to survive the cold temperatures. As a result, these colonies disintegrate and do not recolonize the following year.
The bald-faced hornet is the most common type of hornet in North Carolina. These insects are black and white with white patterns on their faces. They are 5.5 inches long. They feed on insects and tree sap. They may supplement their diet with windfall fruit or tree sap.
The social structure of hornets is similar to that of bees. The queen wasps lay eggs that hatch into a swarm of sterile female workers. The female workers collect food for the developing larvae. During the spring, the queen lays eggs that hatch into fertile males and females. These males and females develop into new queens. They then start building a new nest.
