Wasp | Description, Types, Solitary, Social, Parasitoid, Examples, & Facts

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d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/wasp">wasp</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <span class="toc-extra-link selected link-gray-900 mt-15"> Introduction </span> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/wasp/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/wasp">Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/wasp/images-videos">Images, Videos & Interactives</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/29/124729-004-382DFCB6/Paper-wasp.jpg" data-href="/media/1/636580/118686" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/29/124729-004-382DFCB6/Paper-wasp.jpg" alt="Paper wasp" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/97/124697-004-7B595C8E/Cicada-killer-wasp.jpg" data-href="/media/1/636580/118654" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/97/124697-004-7B595C8E/Cicada-killer-wasp.jpg" alt="cicada-killer wasp" height="50" /> </a> <a href="" data-href="/media/1/636580/319433" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/41/262741-049-1E5A9F54/bees-wasps-ants-homepage-portal-page-banner.jpg" alt="All Hail the Queens" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/09/148209-050-AE439A30/Ammophila-sabulosa-wasp.jpg" data-href="/media/1/636580/154202" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/09/148209-004-75DCDBB8/Ammophila-sabulosa-wasp.jpg" alt="thread-waisted wasp" height="50" /> </a> <a href="/video/type-tarantula-hawk-tarantulas-spider-wasp/229558" data-href="/media/1/636580/229558" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <div class="position-relative --aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/53/196553-138-0AE5B7D1/type-tarantula-hawk-tarantulas-spider-wasp.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="The video thumbnail image shows a tarantula hawk wasp attacking a tarantula spider." class="col-100" /> <div class="btn btn-sm btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%, -50%)"> <em class="material-icons font-14" data-icon="play_arrow" > </em> </div> </div> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/02/5002-050-41B1133E/Paper-wasps.jpg" data-href="/media/1/636580/7972" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/02/5002-004-C432CBB5/Paper-wasps.jpg" alt="Paper wasps (Polistes)" height="50" /> </a> <a href="/video/overview-bees-wasps-danger-pheromones/223555" data-href="/media/1/636580/223555" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <div class="position-relative --aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/15/195015-138-CD222246/overview-bees-wasps-danger-pheromones.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="How do social wasps and bees communicate danger?" class="col-100" /> <div 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They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2025-03-15T00:00:00CDT" >Mar 15, 2025</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/wasp/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn btn-sm border-2 btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 module-spacing js-inline-ai-ask-button p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Related Topics: </dt> <dd><a href="/animal/gall-wasp" topicid="224197">gall wasp</a></dd> <dd><a href="/animal/cuckoo-wasp" topicid="145833">cuckoo wasp</a></dd> <dd><a href="/animal/velvet-ant" topicid="624973">velvet ant</a></dd> <dd><a href="/science/Whats-the-Difference-Between-Hornets-and-Wasps" topicid="2264438">What’s the Difference Between Hornets and Wasps?</a></dd> <dd><a href="/animal/wood-wasp" topicid="647509">wood wasp</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/wasp"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.dw.com/en/rwanda-aiming-to-show-nigeria-that-size-doesnt-matter/a-71900935" rel="nofollow">Rwanda aiming to show Nigeria that size doesn’t matter</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Mar. 14, 2025, 6:07 AM ET (Deutsche Welle) </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref10669"></span>wasp</strong>, any member of a large group of insects in the order <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/hymenopteran" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Hymenoptera</a>, suborder <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/Apocrita" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Apocrita</a>, some of which are stinging. Wasps are distinguished from the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/ant" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">ants</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/bee" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">bees</a> of Apocrita by various behavioral and physical characteristics, particularly their possession of a slender, smooth body and legs with relatively few hairs. Wasps also generally are predatory or parasitic and have stingers with few barbs that can be removed easily from their victims. Similar to other members of Apocrita, wasps have a narrow petiole, or “waist,” which attaches the abdomen to the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/thorax" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">thorax</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100 assembly-container"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="118654" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/97/124697-004-7B595C8E/Cicada-killer-wasp.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/636580/118654"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/97/124697-004-7B595C8E/Cicada-killer-wasp.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/97/124697-004-7B595C8E/Cicada-killer-wasp.jpg?w=300" alt="cicada-killer wasp" data-width="500" data-height="410" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/97/124697-004-7B595C8E/Cicada-killer-wasp.jpg" data-href="/media/1/636580/118654">cicada-killer wasp</a><span>Cicada-killer wasp (<em>Sphecius speciosus</em>).</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Wasps have biting mouthparts and antennae with 12 or 13 segments. They are normally winged. In stinging species, only the females are provided with a <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="formidable" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/formidable" data-type="MW">formidable</a> sting, which involves use of a modified ovipositor (egg-laying structure) for piercing and venom-producing glands. Adult wasps may feed on <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/nectar" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">nectar</a> and, in some species, on the secretions produced by larvae. Larvae of predatory wasp species typically feed on insects, while larvae of parasitic species feed on their hosts.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span><div class="mb-20"><div class="w-100 assembly-container"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="319433" data-asm-type="infogram"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="infogram"><script id="infogram_0__/AmN9iwi0OIrpBm742FOV" src="https://e.infogram.com/js/dist/embed.js?Itp" type="text/javascript" title="All Hail the Queens"></script></div></figure></div></div><span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Wasps are subdivided into two groups: solitary wasps, which live alone, and social wasps, which live in colonies. Of the tens of thousands of species of wasps that have been described, the vast majority are solitary in habit. The social wasps are <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="confined" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/confined" data-type="EB">confined</a> to about 1,000 species within the family <span id="ref10670"></span>Vespidae (superfamily <span id="ref10671"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/vespoid-wasp" class="md-crosslink ">Vespoidea</a>) and include the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/hornet-insect" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">hornets</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/yellow-jacket" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">yellow jackets</a> (yellowjackets). They differ from other wasp families in having their wings folded longitudinally when at rest.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/animal-group-names" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/65/161265-131-DCC952FE/Sea-otter.jpg" alt="Sea otter (Enhydra lutris), also called great sea otter, rare, completely marine otter of the northern Pacific, usually found in kelp beds. Floats on back. Looks like sea otter laughing. saltwater otters" class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Animal Group Names</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="154202" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/09/148209-050-AE439A30/Ammophila-sabulosa-wasp.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/636580/154202"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/09/148209-050-AE439A30/Ammophila-sabulosa-wasp.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/09/148209-050-AE439A30/Ammophila-sabulosa-wasp.jpg?w=300" alt="thread-waisted wasp" data-width="1600" data-height="1198" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">1 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/09/148209-050-AE439A30/Ammophila-sabulosa-wasp.jpg" data-href="/media/1/636580/154202">thread-waisted wasp</a><span><em>Ammophila sabulosa</em>, a species of thread-waisted wasp.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="229558" data-asm-type="video"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="video" video-id="196553"><a data-id="196553" class="gtm-assembly-link d-flex justify-content-center" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9" href="/video/type-tarantula-hawk-tarantulas-spider-wasp/-229558"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/53/196553-138-0AE5B7D1/type-tarantula-hawk-tarantulas-spider-wasp.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop" alt="The video thumbnail image shows a tarantula hawk wasp attacking a tarantula spider." loading="lazy"><script type="application/json"> { "sources": [ { "file" : "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/hnDiVW9I.m3u8" } ], "image": "https://cdn.britannica.com/53/196553-138-0AE5B7D1/type-tarantula-hawk-tarantulas-spider-wasp.jpg" ,"tracks": [ { "file" : "//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/kW5SYwor", "label": "English" } ] ,"adfile": "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/IQ5JTuK1.m3u8" } </script><div class="btn btn-xl btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%)"><em class="material-icons" data-icon="play_arrow"></em></div><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">2 of 2</div></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><span class="md-assembly-title font-weight-bold mr-5 d-inline font-sans-serif md-video-caption" video-control="196553">The tarantula hawk wasp: The world's the most painful stings</span><span>Reaching up to two inches long, these insects are among the largest wasps on Earth.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div><a class="font-14 mt-10 d-inline-block" href="/animal/wasp/images-videos">See all videos for this article</a></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Solitary wasps are distributed in the superfamilies Chrysidoidea, Vespoidea, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/bee" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Apoidea</a>. Most species build isolated nests, which they provision with paralyzed insects or spiders. The female wasp deposits an egg in each cell of the nest, and the wasp larva hatching from that egg feeds to maturity upon the food with which its cell has been provisioned. The vast majority of solitary wasps nest in the ground, digging tunnels in the soil in which to lay their eggs. But the <span id="ref10676"></span>Sphecidae, or <span id="ref10677"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/thread-waisted-wasp" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">thread-waisted wasps</a> (superfamily Apoidea), contain forms of more <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="diverse" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diverse" data-type="MW">diverse</a> habits, with some nesting in wood, pithy plant stems, or in nests made of mud. <span id="ref10672"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/spider-wasp" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Spider wasps</a> (Pompilidae) usually build nests in rotten wood or in rock crevices and provision them with spiders. The <span id="ref10678"></span>potter, or mason, wasps (subfamily Eumeninae) of the Vespidae build nests of mud, which are sometimes vaselike or juglike and may be found attached to twigs or other objects.</p><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="7972" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/02/5002-050-41B1133E/Paper-wasps.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/636580/7972"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/02/5002-050-41B1133E/Paper-wasps.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/02/5002-050-41B1133E/Paper-wasps.jpg?w=300" alt="Paper wasps (Polistes)" data-width="1418" data-height="1504" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">1 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/02/5002-050-41B1133E/Paper-wasps.jpg" data-href="/media/1/636580/7972">Paper wasps (<em>Polistes</em>)</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="223555" data-asm-type="video"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="video" video-id="195015"><a data-id="195015" class="gtm-assembly-link d-flex justify-content-center" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9" href="/video/overview-bees-wasps-danger-pheromones/-223555"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/15/195015-138-CD222246/overview-bees-wasps-danger-pheromones.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop" alt="How do social wasps and bees communicate danger?" loading="lazy"><script type="application/json"> { "sources": [ { "file" : "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/rxNYjqUR.m3u8" } ], "image": "https://cdn.britannica.com/15/195015-138-CD222246/overview-bees-wasps-danger-pheromones.jpg" ,"tracks": [ { "file" : "//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/Sr8258cm", "label": "English" } ] ,"adfile": "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/g7imZAQH.m3u8" } </script><div class="btn btn-xl btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%)"><em class="material-icons" data-icon="play_arrow"></em></div><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">2 of 2</div></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><span class="md-assembly-title font-weight-bold mr-5 d-inline font-sans-serif md-video-caption" video-control="195015">How do social wasps and bees communicate danger?</span><span>An overview of how social wasps and bees use pheromones to communicate danger.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div><a class="font-14 mt-10 d-inline-block" href="/animal/wasp/images-videos">See all videos for this article</a></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The social wasps within the family Vespidae are among the best-known species of wasps. Most of them belong to the subfamilies Vespinae or <span id="ref10679"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/paper-wasp" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Polistinae</a>. In their societies they have a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/caste-social-differentiation" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">caste system</a> consisting of one or several <span id="ref10680"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/queen-insect-caste" class="md-crosslink ">queens</a>, a few <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="drones" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/drones" data-type="EB">drones</a> (males), and sterile females called workers. The queen, a fertilized female, begins the colony in the spring by building a small nest and laying eggs that hatch into workers. The latter enlarge the paperlike nest, which is composed of chewed dry plant material, usually wood, that has been mixed with saliva and regurgitated. The nest consists of one or more layers of cells that are arranged vertically with the openings downward. Depending on the species, the nest may be found in cavities in the soil, in tree trunks, or hanging from leaves, branches, or the eaves of buildings.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="122566" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/127464-050-BF262A2A/Sand-wasp.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/636580/122566"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/127464-050-BF262A2A/Sand-wasp.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/127464-050-BF262A2A/Sand-wasp.jpg?w=300" alt="sand wasp (Bembix)" data-width="1600" data-height="1067" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">1 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/127464-050-BF262A2A/Sand-wasp.jpg" data-href="/media/1/636580/122566">sand wasp (<em>Bembix</em>)</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="196010" data-asm-type="video"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="video" video-id="180432"><a data-id="180432" class="gtm-assembly-link d-flex justify-content-center" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9" href="/video/stag-beetle-insects-tree-sap-access/-196010"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/32/180432-138-0D9A2AF1/stag-beetle-insects-tree-sap-access.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop" alt="See a colony of hornets battle with a stag beetle for access to tree sap" loading="lazy"><script type="application/json"> { "sources": [ { "file" : "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/KUn09qTd.m3u8" } ], "image": "https://cdn.britannica.com/32/180432-138-0D9A2AF1/stag-beetle-insects-tree-sap-access.jpg" ,"tracks": [ { "file" : "//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/s4hq83kV", "label": "English" } ] ,"adfile": "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/c2u90WvC.m3u8" } </script><div class="btn btn-xl btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%)"><em class="material-icons" data-icon="play_arrow"></em></div><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">2 of 2</div></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><span class="md-assembly-title font-weight-bold mr-5 d-inline font-sans-serif md-video-caption" video-control="180432">See a colony of hornets battle with a stag beetle for access to tree sap</span><span>Several hornets battle a stag beetle for sap.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div><a class="font-14 mt-10 d-inline-block" href="/animal/wasp/images-videos">See all videos for this article</a></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The most familiar social wasps in northern <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="temperate" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/temperate" data-type="EB">temperate</a> regions are species of the genera <em>Polistes</em>, <em><span id="ref10682"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/hornet-insect" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Vespa</a></em>, and <em><span id="ref10681"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/Vespula" class="md-crosslink ">Vespula</a></em>. Many are large and aggressive and are equipped with formidable stings. Some <em>Vespula</em> species are called <span id="ref10683"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/yellow-jacket" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">yellow jackets</a> owing to the black and yellow bands on their abdomen. Species of <em>Vespa</em> are called <span id="ref10684"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/hornet-insect" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">hornets</a>, which are mostly black, with yellowish markings on the face, thorax, and the tip of the abdomen. The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/northern-giant-hornet" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">northern giant hornet</a> (<em>Vespa mandarinia</em>) is the largest known hornet in the world, with some workers growing to nearly 4 cm (1.6 inches) in body length and queens typically exceeding that size.</p><div class="module-spacing"> <DIV class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"> <img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp" /> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-text-wrapper ml-0 mb-10 text-center text-white"> <div class="h2 mb-10">Get Unlimited Access</div> <div class="h4 font-weight-semi-bold">Try Britannica Premium for free and discover more.</div> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-button-wrapper d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center ml-auto mr-auto"> <a class="btn btn-m btn-orange" href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=august-2024">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </DIV></div><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD8 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Four major groups of solitary wasps are parasitic and do not construct nests. These are the <span id="ref10685"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/cuckoo-wasp" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">cuckoo wasps</a> (family Chrysididae) in the superfamily Chrysidoidea, and the <span id="ref10686"></span>tiphiid wasps (family Tiphiidae), <span id="ref10687"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/scoliid-wasp" class="md-crosslink ">scoliid wasps</a> (family Scoliidae), and <span id="ref10688"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/velvet-ant" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">velvet ants</a> (family Mutillidae) in the superfamily Vespoidea. <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="Cuckoo" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/Cuckoo" data-type="EB">Cuckoo</a> wasps are mostly brilliant metallic-green or -blue in color and often have intricate sculpturing on the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/exoskeleton-anatomy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">exoskeleton</a>. They lay their eggs in the nests of solitary bees or wasps. The larvae hatching from those eggs feed on the bee or wasp larvae or on the food provisioned by the latter’s parents. The velvet ants have bodies clothed with long thick hair of contrasting colors, often black and red. The females are wingless and antlike in appearance. Most of them are parasitic on the larvae and pupae of solitary bees and wasps. Most species of tiphiid and scoliid wasps parasitize beetle grubs that live in the soil.</p><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="md-signature font-12"><a href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</a></span> <span class="md-signature font-12">This article was most recently revised and updated by <a href="/editor/Melissa-Petruzzello/9400228">Melissa Petruzzello</a>.</span><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-simplify-root"></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":636580,"pageLength":787,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-134/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.134.26"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-134/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.134.26' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"B","adLeg":"B","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"MEDIUM","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":true,"hasAiTopQuestions":false,"hasSimplifyButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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