How Long Do Wasps Stay in Their Nest?
WouterDuring summer, wasps will build nests that last three to four months. They prefer high, high places, such as porch overhangs or eaves. In winter, they will build nests in the ground or in voids in homes. These nests will be made of chewed pulped wood. They will also have a papery finish.
When winter approaches, the queen will hibernate. This helps the colony survive the cold months. However, only a small portion of these queens will survive the winter.
In the spring, the mated queen will begin laying eggs. These eggs will develop into new queens. These queens will build a new nest. The new nest is about the size of a golf ball.
Once the new queen is mated, she will mate with other queens. Together, they will fill the chambers of the nest with eggs. The queen spends the rest of her life in the nest, focusing on reproduction. She can lay 10 to 20 eggs.
After a year, the queen wasp will die. However, the colony will resume its activity. This is because a new queen wasp will take over the old nest. This new queen will mate with other queens and form another nest.
The wasps will stay in their nest for several years. However, they never use the same nest twice. During winter, the wasps may search for new food sources. This may cause them to seek a sheltered place to hibernate. The colony will stockpile food in order to survive the winter.
