How to Tell What Wasps Burrow in the Ground
WouterTraditionally, wasps hang their nests from a tree branch, but some of these insects also nest underground. Some wasps make paper nests, others use mud, and others build nests out of wax. You can tell what wasps burrow in the ground by their body shape and the way they behave.
Some wasps, like the European paper wasp, make paper nests. Others, like the bald-faced hornet, make nests of wax.
Other species, like the ground wasp, live in nests that are dug in the ground. Their bodies vary in size, but they all have long legs. They nest in rotting wood, in a hole in the ground, or in a pile of compost. Their nests are small and conical, with a hole in the middle. These nests may have hundreds of workers. They are social, and they live together in colonies that last one year.
Several species of wasps make paper nests. The European paper wasp is a newly found species in the state. The wasp’s body is shiny black and yellow. It nests in small cavities inside buildings, outdoor grills, and metal gutters.
The ground-nesting wasps are grouped into three genera. They include scoliid wasps, hornets, and cicada killers. The cicada killer is the most impressive of these ground-nesting wasps. The wasp is extremely robust, resembles a yellow jacket, and is a great predator of cicadas.
In the spring, females of Vespidae species, including the cicada killer, emerge from their deep leaf litter in the woods and begin to build a tiny nest. As the season progresses, the nests grow, and females gather prey. The wasps feed on nectar and pollen.
