When Do Wasps Die?

The Lifespan of Wasps

Wasps are a common sight during the warmer months of the year, buzzing around gardens, parks, and picnic areas. But as the days grow shorter and temperatures drop, many people wonder when do wasps die off. The answer is not as straightforward as one might think. so, when does wasp season end?

According to where you live, wasps start to die off in early October as the temperature begins to drop for the autumn. However, they don't die directly because of temperature changes. Temperatures would have to reach freezing for wasps to die due to weather alone. Seasonal changes do have a significance impact on the wasp population. If there is an unseasonably warm May or October, wasps may be buzzing around for much longer than anticipated.

Understanding Wasps

Wasp Life Cycle

Wasps, like all insects, go through a life cycle that has four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and then adult. The life cycle of a wasp varies according to species, but generally, it takes around 22 days for a wasp to complete its life cycle.

In Spring, the queen wasp emerges from her hibernation and begins to build a nest. She lays eggs and workers hatch and begin to care for the young. As the colony grows, the queen lays more eggs, and the workers continue to care for the young and build up the population of the nest.

In late Summer, the queen begins to lay eggs that will eventually become next years males and queens. These new queens will mate with the males and then leave the nest to find a place to hibernate over Winter. The previous, old queen and  her workers will start to die off as the weather gets colder, and the colony will eventually die out altogether.

Wasp Nests

Wasps build their nests out of wood pulp and saliva, creating a papery material that is strong and lightweight, not unlike "Papier Mache". They typically build nests in sheltered locations, such as under the eaves of a building, in trees or in dense bushes. A "mature" wasp nest may contain anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand wasps depending on the species and the size of the nest.

There are several species of wasps in the UK, including the Common Wasp, the German Wasp and the Hornet. Each species has its own unique characteristics and behaviour patterns, so it is important to understand the species you are dealing with before attempting to remove a nest or deal with a wasp infestation. Overall, understanding the life cycle, seasonality, and nesting habits of wasps can help you to coexist with these important pollinators and avoid any conflicts.

Beekeeping and Wasps

Interaction with Wasps

Wasps can be a nuisance for beekeepers, especially during the late summer and early autumn months when they become more aggressive on the hunt for something sweet such as Honey! They may attack beekeepers who are working around their hives, and will prey on bees, stealing their honey and larvae and thereby destroying the bee's nest.

Beekeepers take measures to control wasp populations around their hives by using traps, baits and also physical barriers to prevent wasps from entering the hive. It is also important to remove any nearby wasp nests to reduce the risk of a wasp problems later in the season.

Beekeeping and wasps can have a complicated relationship. While both wasps and bees are essential pollinators, wasps can be a nuisance and a threat to the survival of honey bee colonies.

Dealing with Wasps

Preventive Actions

The best way to deal with wasps is to prevent them from becoming a problem in the first place. Here are some preventive actions you can take:

• Keep food and drinks covered when eating outdoors.
• Keep letter bins tightly closed.
• Seal cracks and holes in walls, doors and under eaves.
  

Small Wasp Colonies

If you discover a small new wasp colony, you may be able to deal with it yourself. However, here are some important things to keep in mind:-

• Wear protective clothing with long sleeves, gloves and a hat with a mesh veil.
• Use a wasp foam spray specifically designed for the type of wasp you are dealing with.
• Spray the nest at dusk when the wasps are less active and more likely to be inside the nest.
• Stand at a safe distance while aiming at the nest's opening.
• Wait a day or two before removing the nest to ensure all the wasps are dead but modern phone sprays will kill the nest contents within a few hours..

If you are dealing with a larger or more established wasp colony, it is best to call in professional pest control service. They will have the knowledge, protective equipment and experience to safely and effectively get rid of the wasps and the nest.

Wasps and Hibernation

During the winter months, wasps go through a process of hibernation to survive the cold weather.

Hibernation Process

The only wasps that will go into hibernation are queen wasps, who will emerge in the Spring to build new nests. They will remain dormant until the weather warms up in the spring. Once the queen wasp emerges from hibernation, she will start to look for a suitable location to build her nest. Most hibernating queen wasps will die over the winter due to predation by other insects such as spiders. However, a small number survive and emerge in the Spring to carry on the species.

Impact of Warm Winters

Warm winters can have an serious impact on the hibernation process of queen wasps. If the winter is warm, queens may come out of hibernation too early and with limited food available, they die of starvation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When do wasps die?

A: Wasps usually die off in the winter season.

Q: When does the wasp season end?

A: Wasp season typically ends towards the beginning of winter.

Q: When do wasps start to die?

A: Wasps start to die off as the weather gets colder during the winter season.

Q: When does the wasp season start?

A: Wasp season usually starts in the spring.

Q: When do wasps hibernate?

A: Queen wasps hibernate throughout the colder months.

Q: When do wasps build their nests?

A: Wasps build their nests in the spring.

Q: When do wasps come out?

A: Wasps come out when the weather gets warmer, usually in the spring.

Q: When do wasps get rid of old nests?

A: Wasps typically get rid of old nests at the end of the season.

Q: When do wasps start to eat nectar?

A: Wasps start to eat nectar during the warmer months of the year.

Q: When do wasps become less active?

A: Wasps generally become less active towards the end of the season when the weather starts to cool down.