Where Do All the Wasps Go in the Winter?
WouterDuring the winter months, most wasp colonies are dead. This is because of the loss of food. While some queens and select female wasps survive the winter months, the majority of the wasps in the colony die off.
In the fall, the female wasps that are slated to become queens begin looking for a sheltered place to hibernate. They are looking for a place that is warm and dry, as well as sheltered from weather.
When the weather warms, the queen lays eggs. These eggs hatch into larvae. These larvae feed on protein-rich insects. When the larvae are ready to pupate, they spin their silk cap over top of the cell.
Adult worker wasps are responsible for the care of the larvae. They are also responsible for collecting food. The larvae will feed on rotted fruit and protein-rich insects.
The queen wasp will emerge from hibernation after a long period of dormancy. She will begin laying eggs again. The queen will then search for a sheltered place to build a nest. She will also tuck her wings and antennae into a sheltered place, to ensure that she will survive the winter.
The adult worker wasps will die off during the winter. They will be inactive until spring. They will then resume their nest building duties. The eggs that are still viable will produce male wasps.
The queen wasp is the main decision maker for the future of the colony. She will decide where the colony will live. She will also decide what type of nest to build. Her nest will be made up of cells where the larvae will lay eggs.
