When does wasp season end and what happens to the queen and nest?

Randy Bilesky BScF CPA RPF

President at Go Green

October 9, 2024

Wasp season typically ends in late fall, around October to November. As temperatures drop, the workers die off, and the queen prepares for winter. The old nest and its inhabitants do not survive the winter. When temperatures drop and the season’s first frost arrives, most wasps can no longer fly and can’t survive from the cold. If a nest is left to die out naturally then potentially that nest may produce hundreds of fertile Queens which makes the risk of the nesting site and their neighbours having wasp nests the following year much greater. If a wasp nest is left undisturbed, it will indeed eventually die out as the colony declines in late fall. However, as mentioned, a large nest can produce numerous fertile queens that will emerge in the spring. Each of these queens can establish a new colony, increasing the likelihood of multiple nests appearing in the area the following year.

Additionally, leaving a nest can create risks in terms of safety, especially if people frequently come near it. Even if the nest is inactive in the fall, any disturbance might provoke defensive behavior from the remaining wasps. Therefore, while letting a nest die out naturally might seem like a low-effort approach, it can lead to increased wasp activity in subsequent seasons. If wasps are a concern, it’s often best to have the nest safely removed, preferably in late fall or early spring when the activity is lower.

A wasp nest is primarily made of paper-like material that the wasps create by chewing wood fibers mixed with their saliva. This pulp is then molded into layers, forming the nest structure. The material is usually a combination of wood from trees, fences, or other cellulose sources. Wasp nests can decompose over time through natural processes. Factors like moisture, temperature, and microbial activity contribute to this breakdown. The nest may start to deteriorate after the wasps abandon it, particularly in colder months, as it becomes vulnerable to decay from fungi, insects, and other organisms. Eventually, the nest can disintegrate completely, leaving little trace behind.

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