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A large enclosed beehive-like structure spotted in Motidhar, Mussoorie (Uttarakhand, India), actually appears to be a paper nest built by social wasps from the family Vespidae, which includes hornets and paper wasps. Unlike honeybee hives, these nests are constructed from a paper-like material made by chewing wood fibers and mixing them with saliva. The result is a lightweight but strong protective shell. Inside the outer envelope are multiple tiers of hexagonal combs, where the queen lays eggs and the larvae develop. Worker wasps maintain the nest, defend the colony, and forage for food. These nests are commonly found hanging from tree branches or hidden in forest canopies, especially in the Himalayan foothills around Mussoorie where forests provide ideal habitat. Most wasp nests are annu
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