How Wasps Damage Wood
WouterSeveral different insects feed on wood, including termites, carpenter ants and paper wasps. While most species of wasps only chew wood to build their nests, some of them can actually ruin your home by destroying the wood.
Wasps burrow into wood and use cellulose to build their nests. Their nests can be very destructive, causing cracks in walls and weakening wood structures. They can also remove paint if they are not treated properly.
Wood wasps are large insects, with cylindrical bodies that are black, red or yellow in color. Their mouths are strong and they chew through different surfaces. They do not bite humans, but their stingers can cause pain. They have a long ovipositor on the end of their abdomen that they use to lay eggs.
The female wood wasp lays a few eggs in a small hole in the wood. She then uses her ovipositor to drill a hole in the wood about a quarter-inch deep. It is not unusual for her to lay up to seven eggs in one hole. The larvae of wood wasps are usually six small feet long. They are covered in a dark spike on their abdomen. They can also chew through carpet, nonceramic floor tiles, asphalt, and metal siding.
After a year or two of development, a wasp colony can become so large that it will spread into neighboring homes. The wasp nests will eventually die in winter. They will absorb water and become breeding grounds for dampness. This can cause wood rot, mold and condensation. They can also block air circulation outlets.
