What Do Wasps Use Leaves to Make a Nest?
WouterWhether you want to encourage wasps in your garden or control a biological pest, you should understand what they do. There are two main types of wasps. Those that build nests are called social wasps. Those that do not build nests are called parasitic wasps. These wereps feed on still-living prey or lay eggs in cavities.
In order to build a nest, social wasps chew plant fiber and wood fiber into a paste-like pulp. The paste is then mixed with wasp saliva and used to build the nest. The nest consists of a hexagonal cell surrounded by a paper buttress.
The nest is built by the female social wasp. When she overwinters, she collects wood fiber to form cells. She then lays eggs inside the cell. These eggs hatch into larvae, which chew wood into pulp.
Non-nest-building wasps feed on aphid honeydew and other prey. They are like cuckoo bees. They will invade the nest of other insect species. They can be dangerous during fruit downfall.
Unlike honey bees, wasps do not swarm. They will only swarm around the nest when they are attacked. They have two sets of eyes. The eyes on the top of their heads are simple and are used for orientation. The pair of eyes on the sides are compound eyes that are used for visual purposes.
The female wasp lays 10-50 eggs inside a cocoon. The nest is then protected by a paper envelope. The queen wasp emits a pheromone throughout the nest to let workers know that the nest is safe.
