Seeing More Wasps this Fall? Five Things to Know

You may have noticed that as the weather starts to cool, there are more wasps flying around. That’s because during the spring and summer, the population of a wasp colony continues to grow. It reaches its height in late summer and early fall. 

There term “wasps” includes paper wasps, yellowjackets, hornets, mud daubers, and many more. Here are a few things to know about the these insects: 

1. Wasps are actually very beneficial. They are carnivores, preying on many insect pests such as mosquitoes and flies. Wasps also feed on beetle larvae and other insects eating our plants, which is good for the garden. In some places, they even receive the credit for controlling the pest population.

2. In the summer months, worker wasps are busy collecting insects to feed the colony’s young. But in late summer and fall, they’re gathering food for themselves. They binge on sweets and carbohydrates for a few weeks before the first hard frost.

3. When the first hard frost arrives, the old queen and the workers die off.

4. The new queens are the only wasps that make it through the winter. Several hundred queens are produced in one colony in one season. They mate with the males, then leave the nest in summer or early fall.

5. The new queens find a place to overwinter alone, such as under a loose piece of tree bark. When spring comes again, they will start creating their own nests.

By understanding the seasonal habits of wasps, we can better appreciate the essential roles they play. These hard-working insects are an important part of healthy ecosystems. So, the next time you encounter a wasp, remember that they’re not just a nuisance — they’re nature’s pest control!