How Do Wasps Change Nests?

During the spring, queens are seen emerging from their nests, searching for a suitable location to lay their eggs. They build a nest in the ground or in a tree. The nest is papery or straw-colored. They use wood fibers as the primary building material. They also enclose cells with paper to protect the entrance. They feed larvae.

When the weather gets colder, the workers and queens die. The remaining workers survive and forage for food until they die. They will help to build the rest of the colony. The new queens will take over the old nest.

The mated queens hibernate during the winter. They lay their eggs in the cells of the nest. The larvae develop into fertile females and males. When the weather is warmer, the fertile males and females mate and produce new queens. The new queens will emerge in the spring and start a new colony.

The nests are usually found in dry, sheltered areas. They can be found in shrubs, trees and eaves of buildings. They can be as large as 30 cm across. They contain 3,000 to 5,000 wasps.

When the weather starts to get cold, the workers die and the queens go into hibernation. The nest is filled with eggs that hatch into workers and larvae. They feed the larvae and enlarge the nest. They also build a new nest for the next year. The nests are usually shaped like a ball.