Wasps are a common sight during warmer months, but as temperatures drop, colder weather significantly alters their populations and behavior. This leads many to wonder about their fate.
The Fate of Wasp Colonies in Cold Weather
Cold weather is lethal for the majority of a wasp colony. When temperatures fall, particularly below 50-60°F, most wasps, including all worker wasps and males, cannot survive. These insects are ectothermic, meaning their body temperature is regulated by their external environment. As the air cools, their metabolic rate slows, impairing their ability to fly, forage, and maintain bodily functions.
Unlike bees, wasps do not store food reserves within their nests to sustain the colony through winter. This, coupled with the scarcity of natural food sources, leads to widespread starvation among colony members. By the time the first frost arrives, most worker and male wasps perish from the cold or lack of sustenance. The existing queen from the previous season also typically dies off around this time.
How Queen Wasps Survive Winter
While the majority of the colony succumbs to the cold, newly fertilized queen wasps possess a unique survival mechanism. These queens enter a state of dormancy known as diapause, comparable to hibernation. During diapause, their metabolism significantly slows, reducing their need for food and water and allowing them to conserve energy for several months.
To endure winter, these queens seek sheltered locations that offer protection from freezing temperatures and predators. Common overwintering spots include under tree bark, in hollow logs, attics, sheds, garages, or crevices and wall voids of homes. They remain inactive, often tucking their wings and antennae close to their bodies to safeguard them. This strategy ensures the continuation of the wasp species into the following year.
What Happens to Wasp Nests
As winter approaches and the colony dies off, the wasp nest is typically abandoned. The surviving queens leave the nest to find their overwintering sites. Wasps do not reuse old nests; instead, they construct an entirely new one each spring.
The materials used for nest construction, primarily chewed wood fibers mixed with saliva, are not designed to withstand harsh winter conditions indefinitely. Over time, these papery structures degrade due to weather exposure. While an old nest might remain physically present, it serves no functional purpose for the new season’s wasps.
Wasp Activity After Winter
When spring arrives and temperatures begin to rise consistently, overwintering queen wasps emerge from their diapause. After foraging for sustenance, the queen begins establishing a new colony. She selects a suitable, sheltered location, often under eaves, in attics, or other hidden spots, to construct a small initial nest.
The queen then lays her first batch of eggs, which develop into worker wasps. These first workers assist in expanding the nest and foraging for food, allowing the queen to focus on laying more eggs. This cyclical process ensures the continuity of the wasp population, with each new colony starting afresh each year.