Time Lapse of Paper Wasps Building a Nest

Paper wasps gather fibers from dead wood and plant stems, which they mix with saliva, and use to construct water-resistant nests made of gray or brown papery material. They are sometimes called umbrella wasps, due to the distinctive shape of their nests. Their nests include numerous compartments within which wasps lay their eggs and rear their young. Paper wasps are semi-social insects and live in colonies. The nests typically do not have an outer shell with the cells of the nest visible. The queen establishes a nest in order to lay her eggs. When the eggs hatch, the cells are home for the larvae until they reach adulthood.  When the first batch of eggs develops into adults, they assume all of the nest-building, food-gathering and larva-tending responsibilities. The queen continues to lay eggs and the colony grows. These nests are frequently found in sheltered areas, such as door frames, windowsill and the eaves of houses. Paper wasps are considered beneficial because they assist in pollination by feeding on nectar, and they control pest insect populations by feeding them to their larvae. Unlike yellow jackets and hornets, which can be very aggressive, paper wasps will generally only attack if they themselves or their nest are threatened.