There’s a definite feel of autumn in the air now, with cooler temperatures, a bit more rain and the leaves starting to turn all sorts of beautiful reds, yellows, oranges and browns. It really is a beautiful time of year and one that’s welcomed by many… not least because it means that those pesky summertime pests start to disappear as the temperature drops.

As we start to get closer to winter and food sources start to grow increasingly scarce, wasp colonies will start to die off. There’s only ever one sole survivor in a wasp colony and that’s the queen and even she may meet a sticky end during months of hibernation, if she’s discovered by a hungry predator on the hunt.

If the queen is lucky enough to make it all the way to spring, they’ll emerge from hibernation sometime between March and May with a view to setting up shop and finding the perfect place for its new nest and colony. 

Unfortunately, the queen can sometimes come out of hibernation too early if the winter has been a warm one and this can mean she meets her maker as well.

All being well, however, the queen will find a nice place to hang her hat, whether that’s on trees, in roof spaces, on sheds or some other cavity that fits the bill nicely. Nests are made from chewed wood pulp and saliva, with the queen happily laying her eggs once she’s finished building.

These will then hatch into larvae and the queen will nourish them with other insects, which are very rich in protein. In fact, this may well be why insects become a future food for us humans, as well!

If you do come across a wasp’s nest over the winter months, make sure you don’t disturb it. You may not know until it’s far too late that the nest is still inhabited. Always call a professional to help you with wasp nest pest control.