What insect builds nests from a paper-like substance?

What insect builds nests from a paper-like substance? The paper wasp does. Paper wasps gather fibers from dead wood and plant stems, chew them, and mix them with saliva. The resulting gray or brown material resembles handmade paper and is used to form the nest's comb.

Unlike the enclosed nests of many yellowjackets and hornets, typical paper-wasp nests have an exposed, umbrella-like comb. The cells point downward and are attached to a branch, building, wall, roof eave, or another sheltered surface by a narrow stalk called a petiole.

The name usually refers to social wasps in the subfamily Polistinae, especially the genus Polistes. A queen or group of foundresses begins a colony, and female workers later expand the nest, care for larvae, and collect caterpillars and other prey. Adults also feed on nectar and sugary liquids.

Paper wasps are often confused with bees, but bees generally build wax combs, while paper wasps construct fiber nests. Although they can sting when threatened, they also help gardens by pollinating plants and controlling caterpillars.