Are Wasps Bad This Year?

Whether you’ve got a hive or not, you’re likely to have a few wasps in your home or garden. They’re out in search of food. They aren’t all aggressive, but some will sting. You don’t want to swat at them, though, because they’ll feel threatened.

Wasps build their nests in the spring and summer. You can see the nests in the trees, under the eaves of your home, or inside barns and sheds.

The queen wasp lays eggs to feed the next generation of workers. These workers feed the larvae protein-rich diets. They also gather nectar and pollinate flowers. The larvae pupate in late August to early January.

Worker yellowjackets become annoying pests around people food. Their larger bodies and black antennae attract protein rich foods like meat and sweets. They’re able to sting, but only late in the season.

The yellowjacket nest builds in size as summer progresses. It can contain up to 4,000 worker wasps. The nests die out in mid-August.

When the weather gets cold, the wasps’ quest for food stops. Workers no longer collect protein to feed the larvae. They no longer need the sugar secretions from their siblings. They look for sugar away from the colony.

The queen wasp will then hibernate for the winter. It isn’t as hard for her to survive cold weather if the temperature doesn’t drop too low. This is also the time for the wasps to prepare for next year. The queen will lay eggs to start a new nest. It’s also the time for more workers to go out in search of food.