wasp information and ID please

[david156]

Hi all,

I must admit that I had never seen this before. Whilst at Minsmere in Suffolk, yesterday I noticed this wasp nest in what I think is a Rabbit hole. Now i've seen loads of wasp nests and had to remove a couple in the past but they always seem to be in a hole in a tree, shed roofs, my old loft etc..
I have never seen one in the ground, especially as it was so open. (I'm sure I don't walk with my eyes closed)



So the questions are;
What species are they?
Is a nest like this common?
and
What would happen if it rained?

And if anyone is at Minsmere and wants to see it, it was by the path very near the gents toilets!

Cheers David

[JRsbugs]

By the markings I would say Vespula vulgaris. I had V. germanica nesting in the ground outside my front window last year, they went in a gap left by corrugated roofing which I had placed underground at the edge of a sand path but I couldn't see the nest. I have bees nesting there too.

I also wondered about rain, but I imagine they are programmed by nature to know what they are doing.

Janet