Paper Cuts? Nah, Paper WASPS

Armed with nothing but pure spite and diy skills, paper wasp nests are coming to a very inconvenient spot near you!

 (a very inconveniently placed wasp nest) - picture by me

    Paper Wasps (Polistes) are an extremely common sight in Florida. They're found everywhere from Pensacola, to Orlando, to Miami, and right under that outdoor table you planned on moving if you're as unlucky as I am! The Southern Paper Wasp (Polistes bellicosus) can be identified by its striking red and yellow body and thin waist. They're nests can be identified by their umbrella shape and paper look.

    These types of wasps will make their hives just about anywhere as long as their nest can hang off of it. They use their mouths to scrape up pieces of wood debris and chew it into a paper-like material to make their nests, hence their name! This paper-made nest is held together by the wasps' saliva and once complete, they're even waterproof! They're highly social and fully developed hives can hold around 30 adult wasps.

    This may terrify some of you, but these wasps are actually not very harmful to you; provided that you give them their space. Only the females have stingers, males are stingerless and tend to stay in the hive to mate with the queen. According to Moxie Pest Control, they're "unlikely to sting unless accidentally stepped on, trapped or pressed against the skin." The easiest way to be stung by one of these wasps however is by trying to do damage to their hive. Paper Wasps will aggressively defend their hives and will attempt to sting you. The sting only hurt for a couple hours and feels similar to a hot needle, however they can cause anaphylaxis in those who are allergic to wasp stings.

(Walking Wasp) - picture by me

    Despite how scared people are of Paper Wasps, these insects are actually very beneficial in pollination and pest control. They can be found lingering around all sorts of flowers, feeding on their nectar and helping spread pollen just as bees do. On top of this, they also feed on nearly every pest insect, including caterpillars, flies and beetle larvae; all of which cause massive damage to plants if the populations are left unchecked.

    The Southern Paper Wasp is a staple of Florida that may be scary at first, but once you peel back it's saliva covered layer, you'll see that these insects aren't as bad as you may think. Unless their nest is in a place that's extremely harmful to you (such as in front of your door) I would recommend leaving these insects alone. They're highly beneficial to our ecosystem and will overall help you in the long run, especially if you have a garden. 

Never trust a book by it's... Paper?

Citations:

Bernheim. (2017b, August 14). Bernheim pollinators: The paper wasp. Bernheim Forest and Arboretum. https://bernheim.org/news/bernheim-pollinators-the-paper-wasp/#:~:text=Wasps%20can%20be%20more%20dangerous,goldenrod%2C%20woodlands%2C%20and%20fields.

Moxie Pest Control. (2024, September 10). Paper wasps: Are paper wasps dangerous?. Moxie Pest Control Paper Wasps Are Paper Wasps Dangerous Comments. https://www.moxieservices.com/blog/4-things-you-didnt-know-about-paper-wasps/#:~:text=Paper%20wasps%20are%20social%20and,or%20pressed%20against%20the%20skin.

Native Pest Management. (2024, April 26). What to know about paper wasps in Florida. https://www.nativepestmanagement.com/blog/2024/april/what-to-know-about-paper-wasps-in-florida/

Why are wasps dangerous?. Rescue. (n.d.). https://www.rescue.com/bugs/wasps/#:~:text=Since%20paper%20wasps%20build%20water,but%20the%20queen%20paper%20wasps.