Hornets, known for their large size and sometimes intimidating presence, exhibit a fascinating life cycle that undergoes a significant transformation as winter approaches. Unlike some other social insects, hornet colonies do not endure the cold months as a collective. The fate of these insects and their elaborate nests is a common question as temperatures drop.
Hornet Winter Survival
As the cooler temperatures of late autumn arrive, the vast majority of a hornet colony, including all the worker hornets and male drones, will perish. These individuals are not adapted to withstand the freezing conditions of winter. Their bodies slow down as their metabolism drops, and they eventually succumb to the cold or lack of food sources.
The only members of the colony that survive the winter are the newly mated queens. These queens leave the nest in the fall to seek sheltered locations where they can enter a state of dormancy known as diapause. They find refuge in protected areas like under loose tree bark, within rotting logs, in soil, or inside structures such as attics or wall voids. During this period, their metabolic rate significantly decreases, allowing them to conserve energy and survive without food until spring arrives.
The Fate of the Nest
Hornet nests are annual structures, meaning they are built anew each spring and are ultimately abandoned before winter sets in. By late fall, once the new queens have departed to find overwintering sites and the rest of the colony has died off, the nest becomes inactive and empty. These paper-like structures, constructed from chewed wood fibers mixed with saliva, are not designed to withstand the elements indefinitely and will naturally disintegrate over time, especially with exposure to late fall winds and rain.
Hornet nests are never reused in subsequent years. There are several reasons for this, including sanitation, as old nests can harbor parasites and diseases that could harm a new colony. Its structural integrity may also be compromised, making it unsuitable for a new, growing colony. Queens prefer to establish a new nest in a fresh location each year.
Starting Anew in Spring
With the return of warmer temperatures in early spring, the overwintered queen emerges from her dormant state. She actively searches for a suitable site to establish her new colony. This location can be in trees, shrubs, under eaves, or within wall cavities, offering protection and space for expansion.
The queen begins by constructing a small, initial nest, often about the size of a golf ball, using chewed wood fibers and saliva. She then lays her first batch of eggs within these initial cells. Once these eggs hatch and develop into the first generation of worker hornets, typically sterile females, they take over expanding the nest, foraging for food, and caring for subsequent larvae. This allows the queen to focus on laying more eggs, continually growing the colony throughout the summer.