Atlas of Habitats

group

0.00004 m³

at 0.2 m

6.75ºN

L07 [chambered] nest

earth

glueing

mixed

invertebrates

L07 [chambered] nest

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Introduction

Liberia
Abandoned hotel in Robertsport
6.7506 ° N, 11.3799° W
08/04/2024, 05:09pm

Wasps are known for creating nests that consist of small, individual chambers in which they lay their eggs. They gather mud or earth to construct tubular or chambered nests, often attaching them to walls, as discovered by our team in an abandoned hotel nearby a surfing club in Robertsport.

Robertsport is a town located about 16 km from the Sierra Leone border. In the 1940s, Robertsport was promoted and received a cultural center, art museum, and guesthouse that were also of importance beyond Liberia's national border. Most of these were abandoned after the Civil Wars.

Micro Climate

Wasps prefer warm, sheltered environments in which to build their nests. They look for certain spots, such as those found under eaves, in garages, or within rock ledges, to protect their nests from rain and wind. The climate should be dry enough to allow the mud to harden but not so humid that it weakens the structure.

Material

Wasps use a combination of soil, clay and water to construct their nests. They gather fine particles from wet soil, ensuring that the mud is soft and pliable. The key to their construction lies in natural adhesives present in their saliva, which they mix with the mud as they build. The saliva contains proteins that help bind the mud particles together, giving the structure added strength and durability.

Location

The discovered nest was located in the basement of an abandoned hotel, which is partially open and situated on a barely accessible hill, rendering it almost invisible during the rainy season. This setting provides a warm, sheltered and concealed environment ideal for nest construction. Additionally, the area offers access to damp soil or clay for building materials and nearby prey, such as spiders, to feed the larvae. Wasps typically prefer quiet, low-traffic locations to minimize disturbances during the nesting process.

Construction

Wasps build their nests by collecting mud and shaping it into small chambers or tubes. They transport the mud to a sheltered site and carefully mold it with their mandibles. Each chamber is filled with paralyzed prey (like spiders), where they lay an egg before sealing it with more mud. The wasp repeats this process, creating clusters of sealed cells. Once the larvae hatch, they feed on the stored prey and eventually emerge as adults, chewing through the mud walls.