Common wasp

Vespula vulgaris

The common wasp forms annual colonies that die in the fall. The nests are built in spring, mainly in the ground (rodent burrows) or in heaps of stones. However, the queen also regularly founds her colony in buildings, e.g. in attics or garden sheds. The cardboard-like nests can reach a circumference of up to 2 m and contain 10 superimposed honeycomb tiers. The honeycomb layers are surrounded by a protective shell containing numerous shell-shaped air pockets. Colonies can become quite large and consist of up to 5,000 wasps. All the wasps in a colony die in the fall – with the exception of the young queens that hatched in late summer. These found a new colony the following spring. This is a native wasp species that is very common throughout Germany. The animals regularly build their nests in sheds, garages or attics and are considered typical cultural successors. The harmful effect of the common wasp is the same as that of the German wasp.