Metric Paper Wasp: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Bees and Wasps · day 1 of 7

Five facts

1. Its take-off gives away its plans: it leaves the nest flying level for a short trip, but zooms straight up high for a long one.
2. Once it finds a good hunting spot, it comes back to search the very same places on later trips.
3. To feed the larvae, it chews its catch into a soft paste, turning and spinning it with its front legs as it works.
4. It has been seen sharing a single nest with another wasp species, the northern paper wasp, with no fighting at all.
5. It is common for this wasp to keep a store of honey through the winter.

The quiz

1. How does a metric paper wasp leave the nest for a long trip?

• It walks down the nest stalk first
• It flies straight up high (correct)
• It flies level, just above the plants
• It waits for a sister to lead

For long flights it climbs high first; for short ones it flies off level.

2. What does this wasp do after finding prey in a place?

• It never goes back there
• It marks the spot with mud
• It tells the whole colony with a dance
• It returns to search the same spots later (correct)

It usually comes back to the same location on later foraging trips.

3. How does the wasp prepare food for its larvae?

• It chews prey into a soft paste (correct)
• It dries it in the sun
• It buries it in soil
• It wraps it in silk

It crushes the prey with its jaws until it is pulpy, then feeds it to the larvae.

4. What happened when a metric paper wasp and a northern paper wasp shared a nest?

• They fought until one left
• One species ate the other's eggs
• They lived together without conflict (correct)
• They built a wall down the middle

The two species were seen living side by side without any conflict.

5. What does the metric paper wasp commonly store over the winter?

• Leaves
• Seeds
• Pebbles
• Honey (correct)

It is common for this species to store honey over the winter.

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