Wasp size question

[Littlesparrow]

We have a small wasp nest in our garden about 4 inches wide hanging from a bush, I assume they are Vespula Vulgaris.My question is do the wasps start out very small when the nest is small, they look a lot smaller than usual?

[JRsbugs]

Google Dolichovespula nest and you should get some images. The wasp goes through stages from egg to larva, then pupa before it emerges fully grown. The queen starts the nest small and fills a few chambers with eggs, providing them with food while she contines to expand the nest.

Once a few workers are hatched they will help with the nest and feeding. Workers are smaller and vary in size a little, there's also more than one species.

Janet

[Littlesparrow]

Right, I will try to take a photo next to something to show scale.

[Littlesparrow]

If this works it is a photo of the nest and one wasp, there is a ten pence to the right of the nest for scale.

[JRsbugs]

I'd guess it's a Dolichovespula sylvestris nest (Tree wasp).

I measured a 10p coin, it's 25mm diameter. A worker D. sylvestris is generally 13-16mm long (not including antennae). At the lower end, that is about half the diameter of the coin which looks about right.

[eucera]

The markings appear (though it is very far from obvious) to be D. media-like. The nest is also pretty typical for all the tree wasps

[Littlesparrow]

Thank you for your replies, Tree wasp it is then.

[eucera]

One of the Tree Wasp species - there are several