Interesting Facts About Paper Wasps

As we enter the hot summer months, we welcome the return of insects, pollinators, and pests.

The most common paper wasp in the Northeast is the European paper wasp. They are more slender than yellow jackets, have some combination of black and yellow, brown and yellow, or black and brown striping, and have a smooth exoskeleton as opposed to a bee’s more fuzzy appearance.

1. How Long Do Paper Wasps Live?

Most paper wasp colonies are dead by the first hard freeze of the year except for hibernating queens, who may live just over a year. The average worker might live between 12 to 22 days.

2. Are Paper Wasps Aggressive?

Wasps tend to have a reputation for aggressive behavior. Paper wasps generally only attack if they or their nests are disturbed.

3. Are Paper Wasps Harmful?

Paper wasps can sting, though most stings occur because of surprise. Either by accidentally disturbing a whole nest or not noticing a solitary wasp out foraging for food.

4. What are Paper Wasps Attracted To?

Wasps are often attracted to typical summer events with lots of food, especially sugary soft drinks and other items like melted ice cream, melted juice pops, etc. They can also be attracted to perfumes or flowery-smelling lotions and soaps.

5. Should I Worry About Paper Wasps?

If possible, you could avoid the area where paper wasps are nesting and cordon off the area to wait out the wasps until cold weather comes. Though if they’ve unfortunately settled in an area with high human traffic, you should have a professional remove the nest.

6. Do Paper Wasps Reuse Their Nests?

Each nest is usually abandoned by late fall and will only be used once. An abandoned nest can be a natural deterrent to keep a new colony from moving in nearby because wasps are territorial.

7. Are Paper Wasps Beneficial?

Wasps can be quite beneficial to a garden. In addition to being excellent pollinators, they collect living and dead insects like caterpillars to feed their young. Adult paper wasps eat nectar from flowers.

8. Do Wasps Sleep?

9. There is a lot of discussion over the definition of what sleep is for paper wasps. However, as best we understand sleep behaviors, wasps require rest.

10. How Many Eyes Do Wasps Have?

In addition to the two prominent compound eyes, bees and wasps generally have three extra sets in a little triangle pattern. These eyes are less complex than the big ones and help aid flight by detecting shifts between darkness and light.

11. Can A Wasp See in the Dark?

Though nocturnal species of wasp in South America, wasps are typically less active at night. Their vision is very different from ours, so while a wasp’s eyes are great at helping them fly and find flowers, it’s thought their night vision isn’t particularly great.

12. How Long Does It Take for Paper Wasps to Build a Nest?

The queens that make it through winter start making their nests immediately in the spring and continue to build and add to them until it is abandoned when the cold comes in late fall.

Let Twin Forks Pest Control® Handle Your Wasp Problems

The Twin Forks Pest Control® team has more than 20 years of experience treating pest control issues for families on Eastern Long Island. Instead of exposing yourself to danger, let Twin Forks Pest Control® take care of your wasp infestation so you can have peace of mind. Take the first step today and fill out our free estimate form or call (631) 287-9020 if you’re in the Southampton area, (631) 324-9020 if you’re in the East Hampton area, or (631) 298-0500 if you’re in the Southold area.