Wasp nest, LM

Light micrograph of part of a wasp's nest. A selected area of the nest was cut and mounted on a glass slide and then imaged using a dissecting microscope. The sample was not stained so the colours seen here are as they appeared. Wasps make their nests from chewed wood mixed with saliva, which gives them their distinctive papery walls. Wasps often build their nests in sheltered locations such as in roof spaces/lofts, under the eaves of a roof, in sheds and garages and underground. Width of image is 1 cm.