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Conservation status: Least Concern
This species of Paper Wasp is known in south-eastern Queensland, but it is rather uncommon as it seems to prefer a cooler climate. In Queensland, it occurs mainly in isolated colonies, but in New South Wales, especially in the Sydney region, this wasp may form huge aggregations of nests (lots of separate colonies living in very close proximity) beneath rock overhangs.
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Scientific Classification
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Hymenoptera
Vespidae
Polistinae
Ropalidia
plebeiana
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A single nest may have from one to many hundreds of wasps. There is one fertile queen, who lays the eggs, and all the rest are workers. The size of the nest depends on the age of the nest.
The nest of the Paper Wasp is a series of cells shaped like a cup and made from saliva mixed with chewed wood fragments. Dried, the mixture is quite paper-like and it gives these wasps their common name. The eggs are laid inside these papery cells and hatch into maggot-like larvae. Adult wasps catch caterpillars to feed the larvae. Adults don't eat caterpillars; they feed on nectar.
Paper Wasps can deliver painful stings, but they aren't normally aggressive. They usually only attack humans if their nest has been disturbed.
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References:
- Queensland Museum – Inquiry Centre
- "Field Guide to Insects in Australia, A" by Paul Zborowski and Ross Storey; Reed New Holland (Australia) Pty Ltd; 2nd Edition; 2008; ISBN 9781876334963; p 192
- "Wildlife of Greater Brisbane – A Queensland Museum Wild Guide"; The Queensland Museum, South Brisbane; 2nd Ed; 2007; ISBN 9780977594313; pp 162, 163
- Australian Museum – Paper Wasps
- Atlas of Living Australia – Ropalidia plebeiana
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