Wasps are social insects, and some species have complex societies that work together. They play a vital role in our ecosystems as predators and pollinators. While there are thousands of species of wasps, the social wasps, like the German wasp and common wasp, are the ones we often encounter.
The wasp life cycle is fascinating, starting with nest building and leading to reproduction. The key stages include the nest founding, the development of worker wasps, the production of queens and drones, and finally, hibernation.
This article will dive deep into the wasp life cycle, exploring the social behaviors and nest development that make these insects so unique.
A nest begins: Founding the colony
The wasp colony begins when a queen comes out of hibernation in the spring. She’ll look for a good place to build her nest, and that location could be as far as 45 miles away from where she spent the winter.
If the spring weather is cold and wet, there may be fewer wasp nests than usual, since the queens will have a harder time getting the colony started.
Once the queen finds a suitable spot, she’ll build a small starter nest out of chewed wood fiber and her own saliva. This mixture turns into a papery material that she’ll use to create a few cells where she can lay her eggs.
After the queen lays an egg in each cell, they’ll hatch into larvae in about 5 to 8 days. The larvae will molt several times over the next 15 days or so.
The queen feeds the larvae with insects and other sources of protein until they pupate. Pupation takes about 8 to 18 days.
Finally, the first worker wasps emerge. From egg to worker wasp, the whole process takes about 28 to 48 days.
Nest Expansion and the Workers’ Roles
Once the first generation of wasps matures, the worker wasps take over the nest-building and maintenance duties. The nest expands downwards as new layers of comb are built beneath the existing layers. These nests can grow quite large, sometimes reaching the size of a soccer ball or even larger. Some nests have been found that measure several meters in height.
One of the largest wasp nests ever found was about 13 feet high and contained an estimated 4 million cells. The wasps work to maintain a steady nest temperature of around 88°F (31°C).
The worker wasps perform all sorts of tasks to keep the colony alive. They collect food, including insects, nectar, and honeydew. They also care for the larvae, build and expand the nest, and guard the nest from intruders.
To share food, the worker wasps practice trophallaxis feeding. They regurgitate food and feed it to the larvae and other workers. This complex social interaction is vital to the survival of the colony.
Worker wasps have a relatively short lifespan, usually less than three weeks. In fact, studies show that almost all worker wasps die before reaching three weeks of age.
Drone and queen production
As summer winds down and autumn approaches, the wasp nest shifts its focus to producing male drones and new female queens, also called gynes. A mature nest can produce a staggering number of queens—as many as 1,000 to 2,000 in a single season.
Drone development and mating
Male drones hatch from unfertilized eggs. Their sole purpose is to mate with the new queens. This usually happens away from the nest, out in the wider world.
Queen development and pheromones
The existing queen maintains her dominance by releasing a pheromone that essentially blocks the reproductive development of the worker wasps. This ensures that only she is laying fertilized eggs that will hatch into new workers.
If the queen dies, however, the workers may develop ovaries and begin laying their own unfertilized eggs, which will hatch into male drones.
The new queens store sperm in a special organ called the spermatheca. This will allow them to fertilize their eggs and begin their own colonies the following spring.
Hibernation and Overwintering Nests
As autumn approaches and the weather cools, wasps start to prepare for winter. The newly mated queens set off in search of a place to spend the winter months. They’ll look for sheltered spots such as under tree bark, in the soil, or even inside buildings.
The drones, or male wasps, die off as winter nears. The original queen and her worker wasps also die off.
Most wasp nests don’t survive the winter. However, it’s possible for some nests, especially those in warmer climates, to make it through to spring. The result is rapid nest growth once the weather warms up.
The largest known German wasp nest was discovered in New Zealand, a place where some nests are known to overwinter. Even so, studies in New Zealand have shown that only about 10% of German wasp nests actually survive through the winter months.
Putting It All Together
From egg to larva to pupa to adult, the wasp life cycle is a fascinating process, especially when you consider the complex social structures and division of labor within wasp colonies. Wasps have adapted to thrive in many different environments, from tropical forests to your own backyard.
Whether a wasp nest survives depends on many factors. The queen wasp has to survive and lay eggs, and the first generation of workers has to take over the nest-building and foraging duties. Ideal temperatures and enough rainfall are also critical for the wasps and the insects they prey on. If the queen dies or something else disturbs the nest, the whole colony can fail.
Wasps play an important role in the ecosystem as predators and pollinators, so understanding their life cycle is essential for appreciating their ecological significance.