Ever since I moved in, there has been an old fence post leaning against the back of the house. I recently tried to move it -- only to be surrounded quite suddenly by about five wasps (I didn't stay to count). From behind the safety of the glass door, I watched and waited until the air was clear of wasps again.
I hadn't seen a nest on or underneath the fence post, so where had the wasps come from? I went back at night (when I thought the wasps would be less likely to become agitated) to look more closely.
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| A group of European paper wasps (Polistes dominula) huddled together between the fence post and the wall. |
The wasps had returned to the fence post and were huddled in a tight group. This time, I was able to identify them as European paper wasps (
Polistes dominula), which I had also found
nesting along the fence. These wasps spend the winter hibernating off the nest, so it seems likely that this is what the wasps were doing -- although it is still summer.
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| The wasps don't appreciate being disturbed. |
Hibernating or not, the wasps were a bit too aware of my presence for my comfort. That fence post may have to stay where it is for now!
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