A close-up of the head of the European Hornet
is chewing wood fibers from this fence rail into pulp to be used in building her nest. Wasps were the first paper makers!
Paper wasp nests can be dangerous because these colonial insects protect their nests aggressively. Only the queen lays eggs, her daughters build the nest, hunt for and feed their baby sisters (larvae). The white capped cells in this photo contain pupating wasps. Much to the boys' dismay, they are surprised to learn that only female insects can sting. I love to throw out that little fact in my classes! It is especially fun when I'm teaching at a school where the team mascot is a Hornet or Yellowjacket! :)
