What Wasps Do in Winter

During the cold months of the year, most wasp colonies die. They starve because they cannot find enough food to sustain themselves. In order to survive, they build nests in homes. They may build them in the attic or basement. They also build nests under the eaves of buildings.

When the weather begins to warm, the queen wasp begins laying eggs. These eggs hatch into larvae. These larvae feed on protein-rich insects. These insects regurgitate their exoskeletons, which the wasp larvae regurgitate into adults.

The wasp queen is the heartbeat of the colony. She is responsible for plant pollination, just like honey bees. She lays eggs in cells that are fully constructed, which allow the queen to lay a large number of eggs. She also changes her diet to make sure the larvae will survive.

The queen is the only member of the colony who is not affected by the cold weather. If a wasp queen dies, the colony is destroyed. During the cold months, the queen wasp may be eaten by other insects. This is devastating for the future of the colony.

When the weather warms, the queen wasp searches for a new place to build a nest. She will find a quiet corner in a warm location. She will then enter the home through a crack. This is the safest time of the year to clean out old nests and dispose of them.

The queen wasp produces enough workers to maintain the nest. She also helps care for the new batch of eggs.