How Do Wasps Go Dormant in the Winter?
WouterSeveral solitary wasp species hibernate in the ground during winter. However, some gregarious wasp species choose to nest close to each other. The queen of these wasps also hibernates underground. They build underground nests up to 4 feet in diameter. These nests contain up to 1,500 wasps.
The female paper wasp is one of the most common winter pests. These insects hide in wall voids and in small crevices near the roofline. Their sting is painful and may cause an allergic reaction. They are best removed by a licensed pest control professional.
When temperatures begin to warm up, the queen wasp searches for a new place to lay her eggs. She then goes dormant, tucking her wings around her body. This helps her maintain her body heat.
The queen wasp then returns to her nest, where she builds a new structure. She lays eggs, and when they hatch, the young wasps become workers. Then, the new workers take over the building process.
When it is time for winter, the queen wasp goes dormant, allowing the infertile females to die off along with the queen. The new queens then begin hunting for resources to survive the cold months. When the weather warms, the queen wasp returns to her nest, which she has built after hibernating.
The queen wasp is the only female that can survive winter. The other wasps die off due to starvation. Some social wasps survive the winter, but only the young queens become queens.
