Jupiter-like banding on Pirkanmaa wasp nest caused by chewed wood and paint
A reader in Pirkanmaa found a wasp nest with unusual banding that they compared to Jupiter; the colours come from chewed wood and traces of paint mixed with wasp saliva.
According to Aamulehti, a reader found an unusually banded wasp nest in a birch about two metres from their Pirkanmaa home. They compared the bands to a stretched image of Jupiter.
The colours come from chewed dry wood gathered from dead logs, fences and building timber mixed with the wasps' saliva, which dries into a paper-like material. Red tones often trace back to painted wood, such as traditional red-painted buildings, giving some nests a rusty cast.
Bush wasps commonly build exposed nests in leafy branches, while other species prefer cavities in wood or underground sites. Aamulehti's nature column asks readers to send photos, location, observation time and size estimates to [email protected]. Photos help identification, and Tomi Kumpulainen, a curator at the Tampere Natural History Museum, normally handles sightings from Pirkanmaa but may respond to others.
Catch the full story over at Aamulehti
