Yellow jackets are social wasps (Vespula and Dolichovespula) that operate within a strict annual life cycle. Unlike honey bees, yellow jacket colonies are temporary structures that do not survive the winter in temperate climates. When temperatures drop and resources become scarce, the vast majority of the population—including all worker wasps, the males, and the old queen that founded the nest—will perish. The continuation of the species rests entirely on the survival of the new, fertilized queens that emerge late in the season.
The End of the Worker Colony
The established yellow jacket colony begins to decline in late summer and early autumn, triggered by changing seasons. As days shorten and temperatures fall, the colony shifts its focus away from producing sterile female workers. Instead, the queen lays eggs that develop into fertile males and new, reproductive-capable females—the next generation of queens.
Once these new reproductives mature, they fly out to mate, leaving the nest for good. At this point, the original founding queen ceases egg production and the colony structure begins to disintegrate. The workers, who have spent the summer foraging and caring for the brood, become disoriented and aggressive as their established duties vanish.
Workers rely on sugary secretions from developing larvae, so the lack of new brood leads to internal starvation. Declining ambient temperatures and the scarcity of external food sources like insects and nectar accelerate their decline. The remaining worker wasps and the old queen eventually succumb to cold or starvation. The paper nest is left completely abandoned and non-viable, as yellow jackets never return to reuse a previous year’s structure.
The Queen’s Winter Survival Strategy
The newly mated queens are the only members of the colony built to withstand freezing temperatures, securing the species’ continuity. They spend late summer accumulating substantial fat reserves, which serve as the sole energy source for their dormant period. This preparation allows them to survive the winter.
This dormant state is known as diapause, which is the insect equivalent of hibernation. Diapause is characterized by a significant slowdown of the queen’s metabolic rate, which conserves the stored fat and allows her body to function on minimal energy for months. This physiological change is initiated by environmental cues, primarily the seasonal drop in temperature and light levels.
To secure their survival against freezing, the fertilized queens seek out sheltered, secluded locations that provide thermal protection and insulation. Many queens utilize man-made structures, entering wall voids, attic spaces, or sheds where they tuck themselves into crevices to remain undisturbed.
Common natural overwintering sites include:
Hollow logs.
Beneath loose tree bark.
Deep within leaf litter.
Existing soil cavities.
The selection of a dry, protected site is the most important factor, as prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures without adequate insulation results in her death. She remains solitary and completely inactive throughout the winter, waiting for the consistent warmth of spring to trigger her emergence. During this time, the queen is vulnerable, relying solely on her stored reserves and the microclimate of her chosen shelter.
The Spring Awakening and New Colony Cycle
Winter dormancy ends when the weather consistently warms, typically in late April or May, signaling the queen’s emergence from diapause. The awakened queen immediately establishes a new colony. Her first task is locating a suitable nesting site, often a protected underground cavity, though some species build aerial nests.
Once a site is chosen, the queen begins to build the initial structure of the nest, typically a small, paper envelope containing 20 to 40 brood cells. She constructs this paper material by chewing wood fibers mixed with her saliva. She then lays the first batch of eggs and becomes a dedicated caretaker, foraging for protein (other insects) to feed the developing larvae until they pupate.
This first generation emerges as small, sterile female workers after approximately 18 to 20 days. Once mature, these workers take over all colony maintenance duties, including nest expansion, foraging, and caring for subsequent broods. This transition allows the foundress queen to remain permanently inside the nest, focusing solely on laying eggs and beginning the rapid expansion of the next annual colony.