Wasps are common insects, often observed during warmer months. Their annual cycle prompts questions about whether they and their intricate nests endure winter. Understanding this seasonal transition reveals a fascinating survival strategy.
The Fate of the Wasp Colony
As the warmth of late summer fades and autumn progresses, a significant shift occurs within social wasp colonies. Most of the colony’s inhabitants, including all worker wasps and male wasps, do not survive the winter season. The old queen, who established the current year’s nest, also perishes.
This widespread demise is primarily due to environmental factors such as dropping temperatures and a severe scarcity of food sources. As plant life recedes and insect prey becomes scarce, the colony’s ability to forage and sustain itself diminishes considerably. Their life cycle is annual, meaning the entire colony, with one notable exception, perishes before deep winter.
Overwintering Queens
While the main colony perishes, an exception ensures species continuation: the new, fertilized queen wasps. These reproductive females are the only members of the colony that survive the winter months, carrying the potential for the next generation. They do not remain in the old nest but instead seek out sheltered locations to endure the cold.
These new queens prepare for winter by finding secluded spots, such as under tree bark, within hollow logs, in soil, or even inside human structures like attics and wall voids. They enter a state of dormancy known as diapause, which significantly slows their metabolism and bodily functions, allowing them to conserve energy without needing to feed for months. This state of inactivity allows them to survive until warmer conditions return.
The Nest’s Annual Cycle
The wasp nest structure undergoes an annual cycle, as nests are generally not reused in subsequent years. Once the colony dies off and the new queens depart for their overwintering sites, the nest is abandoned. It is then left to deteriorate, often gradually breaking down due to weather exposure.
New nests are constructed each year for several reasons, including hygiene. Old nests can harbor parasites and diseases from the previous season, making them unsuitable for a new colony. The structural integrity of an old nest can also degrade significantly over winter, rendering it unsafe or impractical for reuse. It is also an instinct for the newly emerged queen to build her own fresh nest, ensuring a clean and secure foundation for her new colony.
The Cycle Continues: Spring Re-emergence
As spring arrives and temperatures consistently rise, typically above 10°C, the overwintering queen wasps emerge from their diapause. This warmth signals the end of their dormancy, and they become active, ready to begin the next phase of the wasp life cycle. Their first priority is to locate a suitable site for a new nest.
The queen then begins the process of constructing a small, initial nest, meticulously chewing wood fibers and mixing them with her saliva to create a papery pulp. She forms the first hexagonal cells and lays her initial batch of eggs within this starter nest. These eggs will hatch into the first generation of worker wasps, which will then assist in expanding the nest and foraging for the growing colony, restarting the annual cycle.