How to identify paper wasps and avoid being stung

While history shows that China was the birthplace of paper during the 2nd century BCE, wasps have been manufacturing their own paper to make nests for about 240 million years. You’ve probably seen their umbrella-shaped dome nests during the warmer New Jersey months. These industrious insects usually construct their delicate homes under eaves, porch rooves, and other inconspicuous nooks.

Even though their nests are natural works of art, there’s nothing exquisite about an infestation. Because they are aggressive stingers, you need to know how to identify paper wasps.

European Paper Wasp Source: Michigan State University

Identifying This Common Wasp Species

Unless you’re familiar with the color variants of paper wasps, you might mistake them for a yellow jacket or a bald-faced hornet. Entomologists have identified at least 22 species of paper wasps, two of which are common in New Jersey and other Northeastern states. They are the European and the Northern paper wasp.

The Northern species are native to the United States, and they have a honey-brown color. The other species you may encounter in the Garden State is the European paper wasp. Its yellow and black stripes make it resemble yellow jackets. European paper wasps invaded the Eastern states in the 1970s and have been here since.

Body

Northern paper wasp Source: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Like other wasp species, paper wasps are insects. Their body consists of a head, thorax, abdomen, and six jointed legs. Most are about an inch long. You’ll notice that their hindermost legs are longer than the other four, and they trail behind the wasp’s body.

Paper wasps and all insects are covered with a transparent outer shell called an exoskeleton which protects their soft bodies. They have the iconic narrow “wasp” waist and an elongated pair of smokey-colored wings.

On each side of their head are their prominent compound eyes that can see a limited color spectrum. These flying insects also have a pair of jointed antennae used for sensing their environment. European paper wasps can also be identified by their unique orange antennae.

Behaviors

Both the European and Northern paper wasps are social insects like bees and ants. Each colony works as a team to build and maintain its nests. Female workers gather food and protect their egg-laying queen.

While these flying insects are social with their own colonies, their aggressive nature makes them significant pests in New Jersey and other states. They usually aren’t instigators, but they can be wicked stingers that will defend their nest, even if it means their death.

Diet

As a homeowner in the Garden State, you may have mixed feelings about paper wasps. Despite their hostile reputation, these flying insects can benefit your yard and garden. They often prey on garden pests like flies, caterpillars, and crickets. After they sting their prey to death, they chew them up with their powerful jaws. Workers will carry most of this pulverized food back to the nest to feed the queen and her larvae.

The negative aspect of paper wasps is that their primary food source is pollen and nectar. Nothing pleases them more than to feast on the ripe, juicy fruit and melons in your garden. Paper wasps have an affinity for grapes and are a pest for the nearly 2,000 acres of vineyards in New Jersey.

Life Cycle

Paper wasps have four stages of metamorphosis: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The queen lays a single egg in each cell of the nest. She can lay up to 100 eggs a day as the size of the nest continues to expand during the mating season.

Each cell is left uncovered until the eggs hatch in three to five days. The baby larvae are like legless caterpillars. For about the next 15 days, the larvae will feed on the pulverized insects provided by the workers. They will grow and shed their skin at least five times during this period.

The larvae spin a delicate silk cap to cover their cells while they morph into the pupae state. They will remain enclosed in their cells for another 8-18 days to emerge as mature adult paper wasps. Depending on weather and environment, the metamorphosis from egg to adult averages 28-48 days.

Fertilized eggs will ultimately turn into female workers and queens, while the unfertilized ones will become male drones. While the queen lays her eggs, workers continually enlarge the nest, care for the eggs and larvae, gather food, and guard the colony. Adult paper wasps only live about three weeks. Most will die as cold weather approaches.

Habitats

A new colony of paper wasps begins when a fertilized queen leaves her old nest to establish another one. She will find a safe and warm crevice in dead trees or under bark for winter hibernation. Spring’s rising temperatures awaken the queen from her slumber, and she will search for the perfect spot to build a nest.

They will boost their energy by feeding on nectar and pollen that’s nearby. Her target area is a place with a balance of sun, shade, and protection. She will spend time chewing on dead wood and tree bark and mixing it with her saliva. It forms the pulp that she’ll use to create her multi-celled nest.

Paper wasps try to build nests that are close to accessible food sources. They are partial to wooded areas like parks, trees, and gardens. However, you’ll often find their nests in the eaves of your house or other empty spaces in outbuildings. Paper wasps feel right at home if your New Jersey residence is in the city, especially if you have abundant foliage.

Should You Disturb The Nest?

If you notice a paper wasp nest that’s away from regular human traffic, consider leaving it be. These flying insects can prey on other annoying insects that can invade your home. They usually won’t bother people as long as you don’t threaten their nests.

Paper wasps become a pest issue when they form their papery nests too close to homes. If they’ve nested on your gutters or the outside of your windows or doorways, it’s almost impossible to avoid confrontation. The close presence of people and pets is enough to make them feel threatened, and they go into fight mode.

While paper wasps usually sting as a last resort, they are fearless and aggressive when they do. Unlike bees, these wasps stay intact when they sting, so their stinging power is almost unlimited during an attack. Considering that several worker wasps can be involved, stinging attacks can be pretty dangerous.

When the female worker/warrior stings, she injects a minute drop of toxin into the victim’s skin. Wasp stings are typically more painful than bee stings, especially from multiple punctures. Their venom poses a risk to humans, pets, and woodland animals. If you or a loved one is allergic to bee or wasp venom, one sting can be potentially lethal.

Since paper wasps need wood for grinding into paper pulp, they can cause damage to wooden structures. They can also damage fruit and melons in the New Jersey area. An infestation needs professional attention as soon as possible.

Getting Rid of Infestations

Be diligent about destroying any abandoned nests during the winter. Paper wasps often recycle these old nests. Avoid trying to tear down inhabited nests because these wasps will attack you with a vengeance. The best defense is to seal up cracks and crevices around your home to reduce attractive space for them. If they become a problem, it’s time for the professionals.

Paper wasps are among the artistic insects of the world. They can prey on insects that invade your garden and yard foliage. However, an infestation poses significant risks from their stings. If you live in New Jersey, professional exterminators are ready to help you rid your home and property of paper wasp infestations.

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