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Wasp Nest Removed From a Bird Box

Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris).

Wasp nest removed from a bird box, photographed a couple of days after it was treated by pest control as the wasps were causing a nuisance on school grounds.

The nest contained the queen wasp and many workers including all stages of development from eggs through larvae to adults about to emerge from their papery cells. Some of the larvae were still alive.

Here you can see the layered comb structure of the nest which is constructed of wood pulp and saliva which the wasps have made by chewing on wooden objects (they can't make wax in the way that bees do). The layers are kept separate by little pillars called Petioles.

Photo taken in Brinsworth, Rotherham, South Yorkshire in July 2010.

 

Camera: Nikon D300

Lens: Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G

 

I use my photos as inspiration for my paintings which can be seen at:

www.stevegreaves.com

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Uploaded on August 8, 2010
Taken on July 21, 2010