Paper wasps (Polistes) are common around residential properties, often building their characteristic umbrella-shaped nests under eaves and porch ceilings. These social insects form colonies that grow significantly throughout the warmer months. Homeowners frequently wonder if these wasps return to the same structure after the colony disappears in the fall. Understanding the paper wasp’s annual life cycle clarifies its specific nesting habits.
Why Paper Wasps Do Not Reuse Nests
The decision not to reuse a nest is dictated by the paper wasp’s biology and its annual life cycle. Unlike honey bees, paper wasp colonies are not perennial; they do not survive the winter as a collective unit. The entire colony, including the founding queen, male drones, and worker wasps, perishes as temperatures drop in the late fall and early winter.
The only wasps that survive the cold are the new, fertilized queens, which were produced late in the summer. These queens leave the nest to find a secure location, such as a log pile, a wall void, or an attic, where they enter a state of hibernation. When spring arrives, each surviving queen emerges independently to begin the process of establishing a new colony.
A queen starting a new colony has little incentive to occupy an old nest structure. Last year’s nest is susceptible to structural decay from weather exposure and is often contaminated with waste and the remnants of parasites or pathogens. A new queen needs a clean, structurally sound foundation to maximize the health and growth of her first brood of workers. Therefore, the new queen seeks out a fresh location to build her small, initial nest.
Identifying Abandoned Nests
Determining if a nest is active or abandoned is a simple matter of observation. An active nest, particularly during the late spring and summer months, will show consistent signs of life. Wasps will be seen flying in and out of the nest entrance in a steady flight path, often carrying pulp materials or food for the developing larvae.
The paper material of an active nest will often appear lighter and cleaner, especially around the edges where new pulp is being added to expand the structure. If you observe the nest over several days, an active colony will be steadily increasing the size of the comb. Occasionally, a faint buzzing sound can be heard coming from the nest as the colony works inside, a clear sign of current occupation.
In contrast, an abandoned nest will have no visible wasp activity or sound, even during the warmest part of a sunny day. The structure itself will look weathered, gray, and brittle, having been exposed to rain and temperature fluctuations over the winter. These old nests present very little threat and can often be safely removed in the winter or early spring without the risk of encountering any wasps.
Preventing New Nest Construction
While a paper wasp will not reuse an old nest, they often build a new one in the same general area because the location provides ideal conditions, such as shelter from rain and wind. Proactive measures in the early spring, when the new queens are scouting, are the most effective way to prevent construction. Inspect sheltered areas like eaves, soffits, and porch ceilings for the small, nascent nests, which are often golf-ball sized or smaller at this stage.
Physical exclusion is a highly effective long-term strategy for prevention. Sealing any cracks, gaps, or crevices around the exterior of the home with caulk or weather stripping removes potential nesting sites, especially near roof lines and siding. Paper wasps are drawn to protected, dry spaces, so eliminating access to wall voids and attic spaces is important.
Homeowners can also employ several deterrents to make an area less appealing to a scouting queen. Hanging a decoy nest, which can be purchased or made from a crumpled paper bag, may discourage a queen. Paper wasps are territorial and avoid building near a perceived rival colony. Applying a mixture of water and essential oils like peppermint, clove, or lemongrass to previously targeted areas can also serve as a non-toxic repellent.