Social wasps have large nests which contain three types of individuals, or castes: Queens, Workers, and Males. The males and queens are produced in the colony in late summer. They mate, and the fertilized queen overwinters in a protected site. In the spring she seeks an appropriate nesting site in which she builds a paper nest using chewed-up wood fibers. Eggs are laid within the cells and the young larvae are fed bits of chewed meat or insect parts by the queen and later by the workers.

BIOLOGY

Social wasps have the typical "wasp" body type that features a very distinct head with chewing mouthparts, short elbowed antennae, and large compound eyes. The thorax and abdomen are brightly marked with yellow, red, or brown on a black background. Wasps have four clear or smokey brown wings and a short narrow attachment between the thorax and the abdomen. The abdomen is spindled- shaped and tipped with a long stinger.