As summer fades and cooler temperatures arrive, the bustling activity around a wasp nest often vanishes. This seasonal disappearance is part of a precise biological strategy for survival, revealing the yearly cycle of these social insects.
The End of the Wasp Colony
The vast majority of a wasp colony, including all worker wasps and male drones, perishes with the onset of colder weather and diminishing food supplies. Worker wasps, which are sterile females, have a relatively short lifespan, typically ranging from 12 to 22 days, though some can live up to 30 days. Male wasps, or drones, also have short lives, usually lasting 15 to 25 days, and often die shortly after mating. As autumn progresses, the old queen also reaches the end of her natural lifespan, usually dying within the nest.
This mass die-off is primarily triggered by the scarcity of food sources like nectar, sugary liquids, and insects, which become rare as temperatures drop. Unlike honeybees, wasps do not store food to sustain the colony through winter, leading to starvation for most members.
New Queens Survive and Hibernate
The continuation of the wasp species relies on a new generation of queens. In late summer or early autumn, the old queen produces fertile female wasps, new queens, and males. These new queens then leave the nest to mate with males from other colonies. After mating, the males typically die off.
The newly fertilized queens seek out sheltered, secluded places to spend the winter months. These overwintering spots can include hollow logs, under tree bark, in soil, or within human-made structures like attics, sheds, and wall voids. They enter a state of dormancy called diapause, similar to hibernation. During diapause, their metabolic rate slows significantly, allowing them to survive on stored fat reserves without needing food.
Why Nests Are Never Reused
Wasp nests are purpose-built for a single season and are consequently never reused by a new colony. There are several reasons for this annual construction cycle.
Old nests can harbor parasites, bacteria, or fungi, and starting a fresh nest reduces the risk of transmitting these to a new colony. Furthermore, nests are often structurally compromised by weather conditions over winter, making them unsuitable for reuse. The material used for construction, primarily chewed wood pulp mixed with saliva, is not durable enough for multiple seasons.
New queens have an instinct to build an entirely new nest in a fresh location each spring, even if it is near a previous nesting site. This ensures a clean, healthy environment for the development of their own offspring.