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European Paper Wasp

Polistes dominula

The European Paper Wasp is a friendly insect that builds beautiful nests out of paper-like material. They are often seen flying around gardens and parks, helping to control pests.

Habitat: Urban areas

Appearance

The European Paper Wasp is a slender insect, typically yellow and black with long, reddish-orange antennae. Its body is less fuzzy than a bee and more elongated than a yellowjacket, with distinctive bright yellow markings on its face and a pinched 'waist'.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHymenopteraFamilyEumenidaeGenusPolistes
European Paper Wasp
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European Paper Wasp

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

2/5 · Low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Adult wasps mainly drink nectar and fruit juices for energy, but their babies need protein from hunted insects!

Queens can choose to cooperate and build a nest together, but only one will lay all the eggs!

These wasps often "sunbathe" to warm up their muscles for flight on cool mornings, like tiny solar panels!

Unlike honeybees, European Paper Wasps can sting multiple times without dying, though they usually prefer to flee.

Special abilities

Ability

Facial Recognition

European Paper Wasps can recognize individual nest mates by their unique facial patterns, helping maintain social order.

Ability

Pest Controllers

European Paper Wasps hunt and paralyze caterpillars and other insects to feed their young, helping control garden pests.

Ability

Chemical Communicators

European Paper Wasps have specialized glands that release pheromones, allowing them to communicate warnings or food sources.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
20-30 mm
Size
10-15 mm
Lifespan
30-365 days
Flight Speed
20 km/h
Leg Count
6
Colony Size
10-200

Diet & Feeding

Adults drink sweet nectar and juices for energy, while larvae eat protein-rich insects.

Age differences: Adult wasps feed on nectar and plant sap, but hunt insects to feed their carnivorous larvae.

Primary Foods

  • caterpillars
  • flies
  • nectar
  • fruit juices
  • spiders

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Eurasian Magpie

Pica pica

Magpies are known to raid wasp nests for larvae and adults.

hunts

Small Cabbage White

Pieris rapae

Wasp larvae feed on the caterpillars of this common butterfly.

parasitizes

Ruby-tailed Wasp

Chrysis ignita

This cuckoo wasp lays its eggs in European Paper Wasp nests.

pollinates

Wild Carrot

Daucus carota

Adult wasps visit flowers like wild carrot for nectar.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

If you see a wasp, watch it from a distance and don't disturb its nest.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is European Paper Wasp's wingspan?

20-30 mm

How big is European Paper Wasp?

10-15 mm

How long does European Paper Wasp live?

30-365 days

How fast can European Paper Wasp fly?

20 km/h

What does European Paper Wasp eat?

Adults drink sweet nectar and juices for energy, while larvae eat protein-rich insects.

Where is European Paper Wasp usually found?

Urban areas

How does European Paper Wasp hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does European Paper Wasp have?

6

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Where to spot

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