Topology in Motion: Geometry-Driven Defect Dynamics in Social Wasp Nests

Abstract Emergence of order in social insects is exemplified by their nesting architectures. Paper wasps construct hexagonal nests that, like crystals, harbour topological defects. In a paper wasp nest, we identify transient defects that migrate by local wall reorientation and vertex addition, akin to dislocation glide. Across growth phases, non-hexagonal polygons undergo short-range transformations in form and position. The transitions resemble alternating Y–Δ transformation–node release and release–and–straighten events, familiar from electrical networks. Burgers circuits show that passage through intermediates does not reduce the distortion in the nest, and all transitions conserve topological charge, thereby explaining the coupling of non-hexagonal cells. These dynamics propagate defect motion only to a finite extent, after which the defect stabilizes without global reorganization or functional gain. Our findings demonstrate that social insect nest building naturally realizes dynamic topological processes, shaped by material properties, construction rules, and geometric constraints. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.