Wasps

Family: Vespidae, e.g. Vespula vulgaris

Appearance

•  Yellow and black abdomen. Markings will differ according to species.

Lifecycle

•  Young Queens overwinter and emerge in the spring to start nest building and lay eggs.
•  Workers (sterile females) emerge during early summer and take over nest building. Queen continues to lay eggs.
•  New queens and males mate in early autumn.
•  Nest dies during winter, including all the males and workers. Only Queens survive to the next year.

Habits

•  Colony size - medium to large (up to as many as 25,000 individuals).
•  Preferred nest sites – lofts, wall cavities, old rodent burrows, hollow trees and bushes.
•  Nest construction – pulped wood (paper). Combs set horizontally. A new nest is produced each year.
•  Swarming – does not swarm.
•  Food preferences – will take insects and sweet foods
•  Stings readily and repeatedly