Hornets are large social wasps that construct communal nests from a paper-like material made by chewing wood. These insects are often larger than other wasps, with some species reaching over 2 inches in length. In temperate climates, hornets employ a survival strategy known as hibernation to endure the colder months, a period when food sources become scarce and temperatures drop significantly. This process allows them to persist through winter and re-emerge when conditions are more favorable.
Which Hornets Hibernate
Only newly fertilized queen hornets hibernate through winter. As autumn progresses and temperatures fall, the worker hornets, males, and the old queen all perish, typically due to a lack of food rather than the cold itself. The colony does not persist as a unit. Only the mated queens seek out sheltered locations to enter a state of dormancy, ensuring the continuation of the species in the following spring.
Prime Hibernation Locations
Queen hornets seek out specific environments to hibernate, prioritizing protection from extreme cold, moisture, and predators. Common natural hibernation spots include under loose tree bark, within rotting logs, or buried shallowly in soil or leaf litter. They also find shelter within piles of compost or other organic debris. Queens may also utilize crevices or cracks in structures like sheds, attics, wall voids, and rock piles, though natural settings are more common. The chosen location must offer insulation to maintain a stable temperature above freezing, ideally around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, to ensure their survival during the dormant period.
The Hibernation Cycle
The onset of hibernation for queen hornets is triggered by environmental cues such as decreasing temperatures, shorter daylight hours, and dwindling food supplies in late autumn. The queen enters a state of reduced metabolic rate, becoming largely inactive. Her body temperature lowers to match her surroundings, conserving energy for survival. This dormant phase, known as diapause, typically lasts from late autumn through early spring. The duration can vary, but generally, she remains in this state until warmer weather signals the arrival of spring.
Awakening and New Beginnings
As temperatures rise and daylight hours lengthen in early spring, the hibernating queen hornet awakens. Upon emerging, she first seeks nectar from early flowering plants to replenish her energy reserves. Next, she searches for a suitable location to establish a new nest, often in hollow trees, buildings, or underground cavities. She then starts constructing the initial cells of the nest by chewing wood fibers into a paper pulp and lays her first eggs. These first offspring will develop into sterile female workers, who then take over nest construction and foraging, allowing the queen to focus on laying more eggs and expanding the new colony.