Mysterious corkscrew insect nest appears outside Bukit Batok unit

Curious said the insects looked like “giant ants”.

However, bee rescuer Eugene Goh, who has previously spoken to Stomp about his work with the Sundowner Bee Rescue, said the insects were not ants.

“Definitely wasps,” he told Stomp.

He said that depending on the scale of the nest — which cannot be clearly seen from Curious’ video — they could be paper wasps, which are common in Singapore.

According to the National Parks Board, paper wasps are medium-sized wasps that build their nests by gathering fibres from dead wood and plant stems.

After mixing the fibres with their saliva, the paper-like material is applied in layers onto surfaces to create a tough, water-resistant paper when dried.

The nests are attached to surfaces with a distinct stalk, and the combs are open and protected by a chemical secreted by the wasp that repels predators such as ants.

Paper wasps are generally non-aggressive, attacking only when they feel threatened.

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