How Many Wasps Per Nest?

Depending on the type of wasp, a nest can contain from a few hundred to a few thousand individuals. Usually, these colonies have one queen and a caste of nonreproductive workers. These workers are responsible for building the nest, caring for the queen’s young, and foraging for food.

A nest can be built on the ground or in a tree. It can be made of paper or mud. It can be big, from a golf ball to a football. Generally, it will be made up of rows of cells.

In early spring, a new queen wasp emerges. She chooses a suitable nesting site and lays eggs. The larvae develop into adults.

The nests die off in the winter. However, the mated females who survived hibernation emerge in the spring and form new colonies. The nests may continue to grow in the summer. The colonies reach peak numbers in late summer.

Most colonies have one queen and a caste system similar to that of ants. The queen lays eggs in the nest cells, while the workers care for the young. The workers will eventually die out, leaving the queen alone to lay eggs.

In the spring, a single queen will build a nest. She will lay eggs and feed the larvae. In the summer, a new queen will take over and start a new nest. The colony will continue to grow until it declines.

The wasps in the nest die off when the weather gets colder. The new queens search for a new nest.