When it comes to buzzing insects that evoke fear and caution, wasps are undoubtedly high on the list. While their aggressive nature and painful stings may cause apprehension, understanding the lifespan of these fascinating creatures can help us predict when the outdoors will become wasp-free. In this blog post, we will explore how long wasps live and when they ultimately die.
Wasps, like many insects, go through a series of distinct stages in their lifecycle.
The Queen wasp lays eggs in spring. From these eggs laid by the queen, worker wasps emerge. The workers are infertile females who undertake various responsibilities within the colony, including nest expansion, gathering food, and caring for the larvae. Worker wasps have stingers that can really hurt if they get you with it. Adult Worker wasps live for between 12 – 22 days. Queens live for about one year.
In the late summer or early fall, the queen produces male wasps, known as drones. Their sole purpose is to mate with newly emerged queens from other colonies. Unlike the queen and the workers, drones do not possess stingers. The lifespan of an adult drone wasp is 15 – 25 days. Drones often die shortly after they mate with a future queen.
The lifespans of wasps are longer than stated above if we were to factor in all stages of the lifecycle: egg, larvae, pupa, and adult.
Towards the end of summer, the queen produces future queens. These new queens will mate with drones from neighbouring colonies before hibernating for the winter.
| Queen Wasp | 12 months | |
| Worker Wasp | 12 – 22 days | |
| Drone Wasp | 15 – 25 days | |
When do wasps die?
Wasps, like all living things, eventually die. For the workers, their lives are often cut short due to the rigours of their duties, including foraging, nest maintenance, and defence. But seasonality is what will all but wipe out the wasp colony.
As the cold weather of winter approaches, wasp colonies die off, and only the newly mated queens survive the cold months by hibernating until the following summer, when they will emerge from hibernation to establish new wasp colonies. The rest of the colony, including the workers, drones, and old queen, will all die from around mid-September to late October.
Are wasps more aggressive in autumn?
Wasps are more aggressive in autumn. Here’s why:
Decreased Food Availability
As the summer comes to an end, natural food sources for wasps, such as nectar and insects, become scarcer. This scarcity increases competition among wasps for limited resources, triggering more aggressive behaviour. Scarcity in natural food resources such as nectar compels wasps to search for food alternatives in other places, such as bins. There’s a higher likelihood of wasps coming into contact with humans during autumn for this reason.
Colony Decline
During autumn, the wasp colony’s population begins to die off. Worker wasps become more protective of the remaining resources in the nest, making them more likely to exhibit aggressive behaviour when their nest is threatened.
Nearing the End of Life
Worker wasps, which make up most of the colony, are typically nearing the end of their lifespans during autumn. As they age, their behaviour becomes more focused on ensuring the survival of the colony. This can manifest as increased aggression towards potential threats or intruders.
Nest Défence
In autumn, wasp nests are larger and contain more eggs and larvae. The workers become more defencive to protect the nest and its occupants. Any perceived threat near the nest, such as human activity or disturbances, can trigger an aggressive response from the wasps.
Conclusion:
Understanding the lifespan and lifecycle of wasps can help alleviate some of the fear and apprehension associated with these buzzing insects. From the long-lived queen to the short-lived workers and drones, each member plays a crucial role in the survival and propagation of the colony. So, the next time you encounter a wasp, remember that it is part of a complex and fascinating natural process, and respecting their lifecycle is key to coexisting with these remarkable creatures.
