Wasps are a common sight during warmer months. As temperatures drop and winter approaches, many wonder about their fate. While most individual wasps do not survive the winter, the species persists through a specialized survival mechanism. This ensures new wasp populations emerge with the return of spring.
Wasp Winter Survival Strategies
When winter arrives, the annual wasp colony cycle concludes for most individuals. Worker wasps and males perish as temperatures fall and food sources become scarce. The colony’s survival into the next year depends solely on newly fertilized queens. These queens seek protected locations to enter a state of dormancy known as diapause, similar to hibernation. This state allows them to pause activity and conserve energy.
These overwintering sites provide insulation from severe cold and protection from predators. Common hiding spots include crevices in tree bark, hollow logs, loose soil, under rocks, or sheltered areas within human structures like attics, sheds, and wall cavities. During diapause, the queen’s metabolic rate significantly slows, allowing her to survive on stored fat reserves without needing food or water. Unlike bees, wasps do not store food to sustain the colony through winter, which is why workers and the old queen do not survive.
This period of suspended animation is crucial; it ensures the queen can endure the harsh cold conditions until spring, thereby safeguarding the species’ future. The old nest is abandoned and will not be reused; any wasps found in them after the first frost are typically stragglers that will soon die. Only these young, mated queens possess the biological capacity to survive the extended period of inactivity and low temperatures.
Factors Affecting Cold Hardiness
The ability of overwintering wasp queens to survive cold temperatures is influenced by several factors. The specific species of wasp plays a role, as some exhibit greater cold tolerance. The duration and intensity of the cold period are significant; prolonged extreme cold can reduce survival rates. Additionally, the quality and insulation provided by the queen’s chosen overwintering site are paramount. A well-protected location helps buffer against temperature fluctuations, preventing the queen from freezing.
Physiological adaptations also contribute to cold hardiness. Some insects, including certain wasps, can produce cryoprotectants, which act like antifreeze to prevent ice crystal formation within their body fluids. These compounds help to lower the freezing point of their hemolymph. Reducing metabolic activity during diapause further minimizes the queen’s energy expenditure. However, even with these adaptations, a significant number of queens may not survive the winter due to predation, disease, or insufficient stored energy.
Spring Re-emergence and New Nests
As spring temperatures consistently rise, the overwintering queen awakens from her dormant state. She emerges from her sheltered location, seeking vital resources. Her first priority involves foraging for nectar to replenish energy reserves.
Once revitalized, the queen begins the solitary task of establishing a new colony. She searches for a suitable, sheltered location, such as a loft space, shed, wall cavity, or an underground burrow. Using chewed wood fibers mixed with her saliva, she constructs a small, papery nest where she lays her first batch of eggs. These eggs hatch into larvae, which the queen feeds until they develop into the first generation of sterile worker wasps. These workers then assume foraging, nest expansion, and caring for subsequent broods, allowing the queen to focus on laying eggs.