[2] P. chartergoides has two distinguishing characteristics—their nests have transparent envelopes made from oral secretion and females are docile, which contrasts with the aggressiveness seen in most social wasps.
[5] Social wasps often use oral secretions such as chitin or protein to glue plant material, repel rain, and contribute to a nest's mechanical strength.
[4] Generally for social wasps, a queen that was fertilized the previous year and who has survived the winter starts a new colony each spring.
It has been observed that Protopolybia chartergoides nests are transparent and the envelope is made of a salivary matrix restricts access to the cavity.
[9] Common insects that prey on wasps include praying mantises, dragonflies, centipedes, beetles and moths.
Predatory reptiles and amphibians, such as frogs, lizards, toads, and salamanders see the wasp as just another opportunistic meal and do not differentiate them from other insects, despite their feared sting.
[10] When a social wasp is in distress, it emits a pheromone that triggers nearby colony members into defensive mode, a greatly increased willingness and desire to sting.
[6] Wasps are adroit at controlling pest populations, so much so that recently the agriculture industry has started to regularly use them to protect crops.