paper wasp saliva
Posted by benjamin anderson on February 16, 2008
Q: is there anything special about paper wasps saliva(chemical break down) that makes the paper so resilient to the elements. If so could you please send me a chemical make up of the saliva.
State: Connecticut
A: Wow, now that's a specialized question! Might be a good question for a chemist who works with insects but I'm not qualified to give you much of an answer to this one. You're right in noting that their paper nests do seem reasonably water repellent but they do prefer building their nests in sheltered locations, not out in the open. I could believe there are some proteins in their saliva that help to bind the wood pulp they chew up that helps with making the nest strong but it's only a guess. Although these nests can withstand the elements quite well, they do break down over the winter as wind and water get to them. Good luck in your search for an answer and thanks for asking.
John Wiessinger ( February 18, 2008)