A paper wasp constructing a nest. This queen uses masticated wood fibers and salivary secretions to make the nest. Note the egg already deposited in the upper cell. The cells remain open for the duration of the larval stage so the queen can feed the larvae. Prior to pupation the queen covers the openings. The offspring from this queen will be sterile and help tend additional larvae produced by the queen. This image was featured on the cover of the winter 2008 edition of American Entomologist published by the Entomological Society of America.
