# Wasp behavior

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wasp-behavior/1033474>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 30, 2026, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wasp-behavior/1033474 "2026-09-30T01:53:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wasp-behavior/1033474/1 "2026-09-30T01:53:51Z")

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I work at a facility that has 5 story tower for training firefighters. You’ve probably seen one - brick with metal exterior stairs and and a concrete interior stairway. I was on the roof of the building and noticed many (30?) paper wasps just sort of milling around, occasionally landing on the side of the building for a few seconds and then flying around again. Sometimes, two would come together and “dogfight” for a second and then resume flying around, staying within a foot or two of the structure. I looked for a nest but couldn’t find one and they weren’t hanging around a particular area. I’ve seen this before at this time of the year in the same place. They were mostly on the side of the building facing the sun and it was not as hot as it has been. Not really cool but just barely warm. If they were soaking up the heat why not just land on the building and bask? The was definitely no food of any sort up there. What are they up to?

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**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wasp-behavior/1033474/2 "2026-09-30T09:25:17Z")

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It sounds like it could be a mating swarm- mainly a collection of males. Males are only produced in late summer-early Autumn. They produce pheromones to attract newly emerged queens, and cluster like you describe, often reported around tall buildings or other high landmarks, which presumably makes them easier for queens to find.

When a queen shows up, they all compete to be the one that gets to mate, hence the occasional ‘dogfights’.

Good news is if they are males, they have no sting.

Just to confirm, if you listen carefully, you may be able to hear the occasional tiny little wolf whistle.

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**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wasp-behavior/1033474/3 "2026-09-30T11:35:16Z")

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Thanks! Makes perfect sense.

Mike

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**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wasp-behavior/1033474/4 "2026-09-30T13:54:52Z")

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> [@Filbert](#):
>
> if you listen carefully, you may be able to hear the occasional tiny little wolf whistle.

[![](https://scontent.frst1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/698899839_122290271948038244_7032521755385561457_n.jpg?stp=dst-webp_p394x394_q70&_nc_cat=111&_nc_map=urlgen_bucketless&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=b1bd88&_nc_ohc=70YjDCO_6kMQ7kNvwFxmyFc&_nc_oc=AdoAYpqc3Ic2pobHzG9FJ4SXL6V-E8M3HEHowCF_bOaLmu3rKuTmRydasL1AgPXpheA&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.frst1-1.fna&_nc_gid=vVHvQMvlNnSYcxqwaq6oyQ&_nc_ss=7b289&oh=00_AQMzo7pR9kYYVAUMI8hHLcT5d6TNtUDSS5dxwU4YxDXW3g&oe=6AC2E8E6) ](https://scontent.frst1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/698899839_122290271948038244_7032521755385561457_n.jpg?stp=dst-webp_p394x394_q70&_nc_cat=111&_nc_map=urlgen_bucketless&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=b1bd88&_nc_ohc=70YjDCO_6kMQ7kNvwFxmyFc&_nc_oc=AdoAYpqc3Ic2pobHzG9FJ4SXL6V-E8M3HEHowCF_bOaLmu3rKuTmRydasL1AgPXpheA&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.frst1-1.fna&_nc_gid=vVHvQMvlNnSYcxqwaq6oyQ&_nc_ss=7b289&oh=00_AQMzo7pR9kYYVAUMI8hHLcT5d6TNtUDSS5dxwU4YxDXW3g&oe=6AC2E8E6)