Mixture waterproofs nests: paper wasps

Paper wasps use an oral secretion combined with masticated plant matter to create waterproof paper nests.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Maintain physical integrity >
	Protect from abiotic factors >
	Excess liquids

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Making paper or cardboard, perhaps using old wood as a resource rather than newly harvested trees Non-toxic waterproof paper or other bio-degradable materials Cellulose nanopaper which is tougher and biodegradable, building materials

[Collapse all sections] Summary

In nest construction, many social wasps use an oral secretion to cement together nest material, e.g. plant fibers, primarily composed of cellulose. Nests are water-resistant (McGovern et al. 1988) due to the saliva-cellulose matrix. The chitin-like saliva is primarily protein with high proline content. When mixed with the cellulose, it dries quickly and irreversibly to a water insoluble, water repellant surface. In general, wasps in rainy environments add more saliva to the mixture (Kudo et al. 1998), because the saliva’s mucoproteins provide adhesive and hydrophobic properties (Wainwright et al 1976). "P. chinensis, like most other polistine wasps (MCGOVERN et al. 1988, MASCHWITZ et al. 1990, ESPELIE & HIMMELSBACH 1990, SINGER et al. 1992; see also a review by JEANNE 1996), depends for its secretory production on proteinaceous materials." (Kudo et al. 1998:179)

About the inspiring organism

Polistes chinensis
Polistes chinensis (Fabricius, 1793)
[Paper wasp]

IUCN Red List Status: Unknown

Some organism data provided by: ZOBODAT: Zoological-Botanical Database (Vespoidea)
Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Non-toxic waterproof paper or other bio-degradable materials, cellulose nanopaper which is tougher and biodegradable, building materials, interior materials for houses.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Materials, manufacturing, paper

Experts

Biological Laboratory
Kenji Kudo Sôichi Yamane
College of Education, Ibaraki University, Mito, Japan

References

Kudo, K; Yamane, S; Yamamoto, H. 1998. Physiological ecology of nest construction and protein flow in pre-emergence colonies of Polistes chinesis (Hymenoptera Vespidae): effects of rainfall and microclimates. Ethology, Ecology & Evolution. 10(2): 171-183.

Mixture waterproofs nests: paper wasps

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