It is not really success. Nest vary for a variety of reasons. Every spring a hibernating queen builds the first new nest, lays eggs and the colony begins when the workers hatch. Colonies can number 6 to 100 as the season progresses. A major factor is the supply of caterpillars as food. Other insects, like spiders, can raid the nests or kill a queen. The hanging of the nest from a single point helps keep the predators at bay when the queen is the only defender of the first nest.
2 Comments
Thank you gatorfellows for the very interesting info, now I know.
It is not really success. Nest vary for a variety of reasons. Every spring a hibernating queen builds the first new nest, lays eggs and the colony begins when the workers hatch. Colonies can number 6 to 100 as the season progresses. A major factor is the supply of caterpillars as food. Other insects, like spiders, can raid the nests or kill a queen. The hanging of the nest from a single point helps keep the predators at bay when the queen is the only defender of the first nest.