Valued image set: Paper wasp colony

	This is a valued image set on Wikimedia Commons. The image has been assessed under the valued image criteria and is considered the most valued image set on Commons within the scope: Paper wasp colony You can see its nomination at Commons:Valued image candidates/Paper wasp colony.
1 - The nest with only a few cells. 2 - New cells being made with mashed fibers and saliva 3 - A caterpillar was caught and is being chewed to feed the larvae. 4 - Feeding the larvae 5 - Using the wings as a fan to cool down the larvae 6 - The wasp guarding her heirs.
A young paper wasp queen (Polistes dominula) is founding a new colony. The nest was made with wood fibers and saliva, and the eggs were laid and fertilized with sperm kept from last year. Now the wasp is feeding and taking care of her heirs. In some weeks, new females will emerge and the colony will expand. The timespan between the older and more recent photos is about one month