Learn how wasps build their unique nests step-by-step, including materials used and the process of construction, explained clearly for 18-year-old learners.
Wasps are fascinating insects known for their ability to build intricate nests. Here's a clear, step-by-step explanation of how they make these nests:
The first thing a wasp does is select a suitable site for its nest. This place can be under eaves, inside hollow trees, in shrubs, or sometimes underground.
Wasps don't use mud like some insects; instead, they create their nest from wood fibers. They chew on weathered wood, such as fence rails or tree bark, mixing it with their saliva to make a papery pulp.
Using this pulp, wasps form thin layers that dry quickly, building the characteristic papery layers of the nest. They start by forming a small stalk called a petiole, which attaches the nest to its surface.
Within the nest, they construct hexagonal cells where the female lays her eggs. These cells are crafted from the same paper-like material and arranged in clusters.
As the colony grows, more wasps join in collecting wood pulp and building, expanding the nest by adding more layers and cells around the initial structure.
In short, wasps make nests by selecting a location, chewing wood to create paper pulp, building a stalk, constructing hexagonal cells for eggs, and continuously expanding the nest as the colony grows. This engineering marvel helps protect the young wasps and supports the colony.