Life Cycles of Paper Wasps

 

Life Cycles of Paper Wasps

Paper Wasps 101

Paper wasps belong to the Vespoidea branch of the Hymenoptera family tree. Hymenoptera includes wasps, bees, and ants, while the Vespoidea branch of that tree narrows down to include wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets. These pests are very colony-oriented and take care of one another as they expend and grow their family. Just like bees, social wasps live in matriarchal societies led by a queen of the hive and most of their population consists of female workers. Throughout their lives, they pass through four life stages: eggs, larvae, pupae, and adulthood.

Eggs

After mating, new queens form their nests out of chewed wood pulp and deposit the eggs of the first generation of workers, which she will raise on her own. The eggs are laid individually within the hexagonal cells of the nest and look like small, milky-white ovoids. The fertilized eggs result in female offspring, while unfertilized eggs create males. Within just a few days, the eggs hatch into their larval form.

Larvae

The adults of the colony feed and tend to the larvae of the colony as they molt and mature over the course of roughly two weeks. They are small and grub-like in appearance with a creamy yellow tone to their bodies and brown colored heads.

Pupae

After their two weeks as a larva, the adolescent wasps form a cocoon in their cells, effectively entering their pupal form. While in the cocoon, the pupae quickly transforms into its final adult form over the course of only roughly seven days.

Adulthood

As adults, there are three castes of wasps: males, queens (current and future), and worker females, which make up the majority of the colony’s population. Reproduction is the primary job of the males and queens within a colony, while the sterile female workers run the rest of the hive. These workers continue to build the nest, collect food, care for the young, and protect the colony. As adults, paper wasps have yellow and black striped bodies with long, thin abdomens, a set of wings, and a stinger. Notably, they also have an additional color to their overall hue – orange. This color is displayed on their legs and brightly on the tips of their antennae’s, distinguishing themselves from other Vespoidea.

Watch Out for Wasps

Unfortunately, these wasps can be aggressive, predatory, and very territorial. In fact, if their nest happens to be destroyed, they often return to rebuild it in the exact same spot. If you come across these stinging pests in your yard, it is highly recommended that you do not try to combat them on your own. Removing wasp nests is a process and requires professional intervention to ensure safety because, while not inherently dangerous, if you are allergic to their stings, they can potentially be deadly. Stay safe and watch out for wasps!  

Citations

Gardner, K., Klass, C. and Calderone, N. (no date) Stinging Insects: Paper Wasps, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County. Cornell University Department of Entomology. Available at: http://idl.entomology.cornell.edu/wp-content/uploads/Paper-Wasps-CCE.pdf (Accessed: 2021).

Kelly, J. (2020) The life cycle of paper wasps, Pets on Mom. Available at: https://animals.mom.com/life-cycle-paper-wasps-6238.html (Accessed: August 9, 2021).

Landolt, P. and Antonelli, A. Yellowjackets and Paper Wasps, Washington State University. WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center. Available at: https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/1384/2016/07/Yellojackets-and-Paper-Wasps.pdf (Accessed: May 2020).

Paper Wasp (no date) Texas A&M Agrilife Extension . Texas A&M University. Available at: https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/paper-wasp/ (Accessed: August 9, 2021).

Paper Wasps (no date) Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District. Available at: https://www.ocvector.org/files/162ecaa92/Paper-wasps-npi.pdf (Accessed: 2021).

Ryan, T. (2020) How Long Does it Take for Wasp Larvae to Hatch?, Pets on Mom. Available at: https://animals.mom.com/long-wasp-larvae-hatch-10651.html (Accessed: August 9, 2021).

Vogt, C. (2018) Types of Wasps That Are Very Aggressive, Sciencing. Available at: https://sciencing.com/types-of-wasps-12365156.html (Accessed: September 2020).

Wu, K. (2018) Five Real Life Wasp Superpowers Not in Ant-Man and the Wasp, Smithsonian Magazine. The Smithsonian Institution. Available at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-you-should-let-wasp-be-your-hero-today-180969521/ (Accessed: July 2020).