A paper wasp nest is spotted today nestled in a tree near the Los Alamos Post Office downtown on Central Avenue. Paper wasps are vespid wasps that gather fibers from dead wood and plant stems, which they mix with saliva, and use to construct water-resistant nests made of gray or brown papery material. Some types of paper wasps are sometimes called umbrella wasps, due to the distinctive design of their nests. The name ‘paper wasps’ typically refers to members of the vespid subfamily Polistinae, though it often colloquially includes members of the subfamilies Vespinae (hornets and yellowjackets) and Stenogastrinae, which also make nests out of paper. Twenty-two species of Polistes paper wasps have been identified in North America and approximately 300 species have been identified worldwide. Source: wikipedia.com Photo by Lorraine Hartway

A paper wasp nest is spotted today nestled in a tree near the Los Alamos Post Office.Photo by Lorraine Hartway