Tapping wasp

[kennyboy]

Out far a dander this evening. Heard a faint tapping. Upon further investigation came across a wasp (Vespula vulgaris) busily banging its head on the stem of last years Teasel.

At first I thought it might be cleaning its mandibles. Then I noticed other wasps flying along the stems, as if looking for something, before landing and starting to headbang.

Can anyone explain this behaviour?

Here is a video of one of them at it. It's not the best video but you get the gist.
[video=youtube;BxLTUEXLS_o]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxLTUEXLS_o&feature=yo utu.be[/video]

 

[Bowlander]

They are gathering wood pulp to make their papery nests.

One was on the outside of my shed and it was quite loud inside!

 

[Mouse040]

I believe wasps build their nests out of paper, which they make by chewing wood fibre there having dinner

 

[Bowlander]

I believe wasps build their nests out of paper, which they make by chewing wood fibre there having dinner

Like what I said.

 

[Mouse040]

Like what I said.

Yeap like he said completely missed your comment sorry

 

[Harvestman]

Here's a picture of a wasp I found collecting wood from a fence post. Took a lot of attempts before I got a shot in focus, because of the vibrating behaviour described by kennyboy

The pale brown areas on the post are where wood has already been chewed off.

 

[JonathanD]

Ditto. But mines better

 

[Harvestman]

It is indeed

 

[daveO]

We've got a wasps nest above a window here at the office. They've moved on from eating a gate now and have started work on my composter which is made of pallets. I was kinda hoping they'd stick at it on the gate because it needs rubbing down for painting

 

[addo]

Teasel seems to be the wasps favorite in my garden too. They make quite a noise for their size and I thought it was a bird at first.

 

[daveO]

Tried to get a pic of them eating my composter but they move so quickly it's hard to get a good shot. They were building up surprisingly large balls of wood though.

 

[kennyboy]

Thanks for the info. As a townie whos only interaction with wasps is of the insane blind panic, arm swirling, variety I now have a new respect for these maligned critters. Truly amazing photos there!