Depending on the temperature, Queen wasps (Vespula vulgaris) come out of hibernation around March to April. She will find appropriate nesting sites such as loft spaces, air bricks and wall cavities. In one of these she will build a small paper nest using chewed up wood fibres and in this will lay her eggs. The young larvae, who become the workers in the nest, are fed pieces of chewed meat and insect parts. When the nest reaches its peak in late September to early October it can house up to 30,000 individuals.

Wasps can be very aggressive and will defend their nests causing multiple stings. In severe cases a single sting can be fatal.