EUROPEAN PAPER WASPS LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK
European paper wasps are a primitively eusocial wasp that has a native range from Mediterranean Europe to China. It is an invasive species to North America and was first seen in Boston, Massachusetts, in the 1970s. European paper wasps are highly successful colonizers and are now found throughout most of the United States and parts of Canada. They tend to colonize near human civilizations because man-made structures can serve as great shelters and are usually located close to food resources. The European paper wasp is more aggressive than our native paper wasps and attacks humans with much less provocation. European paper wasps have a more diverse diet than most paper wasps, giving them a superior survival ability during a shortage of food resources. Due to their yellow and black coloration and markings, European paper wasps are frequently mistaken for yellowjackets. European paper wasps have yellow and black striping like yellowjackets but have elongated and more slender bodies with orange-tipped antennae. Yellowjackets have shorter and thicker bodies than paper wasps. Yellowjacket wasps have black antennae and tuck their legs under their bodies when they fly, unlike paper wasps who dangle their long legs while in flight. The European paper wasp is about 3/4 inch long and has a thread waist. A thread waste is a common phrase used to describe the wasp's body's distinct constriction between the thorax and abdomen.
EUROPEAN PAPER WASPS LIFE CYCLE & REPRODUCTION - NASSAU COUNTY, LONG ISLAND
The European paper wasp's life cycle begins in the spring when the previous year's brood of fertilized queens that overwintered in protected areas start constructing new nest sites. European paper wasps build their nests in sheltered locations such as attics, under the eaves of Long Island homes, inside electrical boxes, inside railings, inside outdoor lighting fixtures, under porch decks, and inside gas grills. The wasp nest, which hangs downward and has open cells on the bottom, is built by a single fertilized queen. The wasp queen will deposit one egg in each nest cell, which will hatch into larvae within several days. The queen will feed the developing wasp larvae chewed up insect parts, including tent caterpillars, cabbage worms, hornworms, and sawfly larvae. European paper wasps have a more diverse diet than most paper wasps, giving them a superior survival ability during a shortage of resources. Adult European paper wasps feed on nectar from flowers and not the insect prey fed to the wasp larvae. It takes forty to fifty days for the eggs to develop into adult worker wasps. The new worker wasps will assist in nest construction, foraging for food, colony defense, and caring for developing wasp brood. Following the rearing of the worker wasps, the queen's activities will now be limited to egg-laying. New queens and drones appear in the latter part of the summer, and their numbers increase until they are ready to leave the nest in the fall. The European wasp colony continues to grow and may contain one hundred or cells by fall. Mating occurs, and the mated females will leave the nest a hibernate to repeat the cycle the following year. Non-reproductive female workers and drones do not survive the winter.
EUROPEAN PAPER WASPS NEST REMOVAL - LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK
European paper wasps will, in most cases, only attack if they or their nest is disturbed. However, the territorial nature of European paper wasps could result in attacks on human beings. Since their stings are very painful and can produce a potentially life-threatening reaction in those who are allergic, European paper wasp nests in human-inhabited areas present an imminent danger. Therefore, you need to contact the European wasp nest removal experts at Long Island Bee Removal to eliminate an unwanted wasp nest. Correctly identifying the type of wasp that is infesting your Nassau County property is key to Long Island wasp removal. Our pest management professionals have extensive training and expertise in wasp control methods.
