The social wasps are in the Vespidae family. there are 4000 species world wide, and seven species in Britain. Their life cycle is similar to Bumblebees, in that it is annual, with only the newly mated queens surviving the winter by hibernating. Wasps do not hibernate underground, but usually choose a dry, cool, sheltered spot.

Nests.
On the left is an old nest of a Polistese sp. wasp. These wasps are known as paper wasps and usually have fairly small nests in sheltered locations. This one was on the inside of a window shutter, so it would have been in the dark. Below is a hornet nest, and below that a comman wasp nest.

The social wasps construct their nests out of chewed wood mixed with their own saliva. It

is possible for a very successful nest to produce as many as 20 000 individuals, although they will not all be alive at the same time.

Left is a drawing of a hornet's nest (Vespa cabro) in the early stages. The nest is similar to a wasp's, i.e. it is constructed of chewed wood mixed with saliva. The wood is obtained from unpainted fence posts, fences, tree trunks, and garden furniture that is unvarnished or treated. Unlike the social bees, hornets and wasps have no wax glands.

Food. Wasp and hornet grubs are carnivorous, the adults bring them prey which is mainly other insects. This is chewed up into a paste by the workers and queen and fed to the grubs. As many of these insects are regarded as "pests" by gardeners, it is clear that the wasp should be regarded as the gardener's friend. The adult hornets and wasps prefer sweet foods such as nectar. Towards the end of summer when the queen has stopped laying eggs and all the grubs have been fed, the workers forage for sweet foods for themselves. As there are no grubs clamouring for insect paste the workers tend to become lazy, and as they have short tongues so cannot reach the nectaries of some flowers they can become a nuisance to humans if they discover our sweet foods such as sugar, jam, ice cream, etc. In northern Europe wasps do not store food in their nests. Hornets generally do not nest underground, but prefer cavities in trees and walls. Colonies