Multiple Use of an Old Nest by the European Paper Wasp Polistes dominula (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) in Central Poland

Abstract

Refurbishing the old nest in order to prepare it for a new breeding season cycle has already been observed in few species of paper wasps. When future foundresses emerge from hibernacula they have choose between building a new nest or reusing an old one. In present paper I described a case of multiple use and further expansion an old nest by Polistes dominula (Christ, 1791) in Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Mazovia Region, Central Poland.

Keywords

• nesting biology
• nest reutilization
• paper wasps