Early in spring a large Common wasp (Vespula vulgaris) ^[1] may crawl from one of the nestholes of the bee hotels. These are overwintering queens that have awoken by the rising temperatures and start to prepare for the new season.

Often she will warm up sitting in the nesthole. She will sit in front of the opening, sometimes with the abdomen already outside. She’s still slow when she crawls out and will find a nice spot in the sun on the nestblock to warm up. Once warm and energitic she will take of in search of a place to start her nest.

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Literature

¹ Nederlands Soortenregister