Wasps drink water as a necessary part of their survival and the maintenance of their colonies. These insects require water for biological processes, especially under varying environmental conditions. The need for water extends beyond personal hydration; it plays a mechanical and structural role in the engineering of their homes. This necessity drives their behavior throughout the warm months, dictating where they forage and how they manage the internal environment of their nest.
Biological Necessity of Water Intake
Water is required for the wasp’s internal metabolic functions, including transporting nutrients and removing waste products. During flight and high activity levels, wasps lose a significant amount of water through respiration, making constant replenishment necessary to maintain fluid balance. This need is acute for workers, who expend high amounts of energy foraging for food and building materials.
A primary reason for water collection is thermoregulation, the process of regulating temperature within the colony. On hot days, worker wasps collect water and transport it back to the nest, where they spread water droplets over the paper comb structure. They then stand over the treated area and rapidly fan their wings, creating an airflow that causes the water to evaporate. This evaporative cooling system lowers the nest’s internal temperature, protecting vulnerable eggs and larvae from overheating.
The thoracic temperature of a foraging wasp can reach high levels when ambient temperatures are high, demonstrating the need for effective heat management. Evaporative water loss is a mechanism they use to prevent their own bodies from overheating, a common physiological challenge for insects in warm environments.
Structural Role of Water in Nest Building
Water is required for the construction material used by social wasps, such as yellowjackets and paper wasps. These insects are natural paper makers, first using their strong mandibles to scrape and chew wood fibers from sources like weathered fences, dead trees, or untreated lumber.
The chewed wood pulp is then mixed with water, which the wasp carries in its crop, along with saliva. This combination creates a pliable, sticky paste that is essentially a crude form of paper mache. The consistency of this pulp is affected by ambient humidity, which influences how easily the wasps can manipulate the material during construction.
This wet material is carefully applied in layers to form the hexagonal cells and the protective envelope of the nest. As the water evaporates, the cellulose fibers bind together, transforming the soft pulp into the hard, papery structure that gives the nest its strength and durability. Without water, the wasps cannot properly soften the wood fibers to create this building material.
Common Water Sources and Safety
Wasps seek out a variety of accessible water sources, often placing them in direct contact with human activity. Common foraging locations include standing water in bird baths, pet water dishes, and swimming pools, as well as moisture from leaky outdoor faucets or dripping air conditioning units. They also frequent muddy areas, puddles, and drainage ditches to satisfy their need for hydration and construction materials.
When a wasp is focused on collecting water, it is less aggressive than when it is defending its nest. They are often observed hovering or landing on the edge of a water source to sip or collect a droplet before returning to the colony. However, their presence around pools or patio areas can still be a cause for concern for residents.
To reduce the attraction of wasps to a property, one can eliminate sources of standing water. This includes regularly emptying containers that collect rainwater, repairing any leaky hoses, and ensuring gutters are draining properly. If a pool or pond is present, a fountain or waterfall can keep the water moving, which may make it less appealing to foraging wasps.