How Long Do Common Wasps Live?
WouterDespite being a social animal, common wasps live only a short time. They are most active when the weather is warm and sunny. They are very weak when the temperatures are cold. Even if they are well fed, they can be killed by temperatures that are below freezing.
The average lifespan of a common wasp is 24 days. The queen can live for up to a year, but workers and drones have much shorter lives. The queen has an important role in maintaining the health of the colony. It lays eggs, which develop into young wasps. These young wasps are then taken care of by the workers. They also gather nectar from flowers to feed the larvae.
During summer, the wasp colony grows in size. It produces new workers and female queens. The first batch of workers begins to build a nest. The nests are papery, meaning they are constructed out of hexagonal cells. These nests are typically built above or below ground. The nests will typically last for several months.
In winter, the queen goes into hibernation. Her body consists of three body parts, including a thorax with a constricted petiole and two membranous wings. It also has a compound eye. The last segment of the abdomen is modified into an egg-laying ovipositor.
A queen wasp will go into hibernation for several months. Her body will be covered with a silk-like material to protect it from the cold. It will be found in crevices of trees, rocks and attics.
