How Wasps Fly in the Cold
During the winter months, wasps become less active and slow down their metabolism. They stop flying, and most nests die. The queen is left in the nest to protect herself from predators. When the weather begins to warm, she searches for a new place to lay her eggs. Then she prepares for a marathon of egg laying in the spring.
The queen is protected from predators by the worker wasps. These wasps also feed the queen. When the weather is cold, the worker wasps will stop protecting the queen. Instead, they will try to hide her inside the home.
In order to survive the cold, the queen wasp will find a warm place to hibernate. She will build a nest in a sheltered spot. She will then tuck the antennae and wings into the shelter. The nest will be at the largest size possible.
When the weather begins to warm, the queen will start laying eggs. These eggs develop into new queens. The young mated queens will start their own nests in the spring.
When the weather turns cold, the queen will begin to hibernate in the nest. The workers will start to die off. However, select female wasps will survive the cold.
When the weather begins to warm, a new queen is created. These wereps begin to lay eggs. When the weather begins to warm again, the queen will repopulate the colony. Wasps can be found in a variety of habitats, including tropical forests, deserts, and homes.