Do Yellow Jackets Die in the Winter? Find Out Their Fate

Yellow jackets are a common sight during the warmer months, buzzing around gardens and parks. However, as winter approaches, these buzzing insects are often wondered about regarding their survival.

Most yellow jacket colonies die off in the winter, with the exception of queen yellow jackets that have mated in the fall. These queens overwinter as adults and create a new colony in the spring [^[1]^]. During the cold season, mated queens search for a protected site to spend the winter, such as a brush pile, hollow tree, or building [^[2]^]. The parent colony starts to decline rapidly in the fall, and the males that have successfully mated quickly die [^[3]^].

Yellow Jackets and Winter

Life Cycle

Yellow jackets are social wasps with an annual life cycle. In spring, queens that survived winter create a new colony by laying eggs which develop into worker yellow jackets, as mentioned by the University of Florida. As the summer progresses, the workers forage, collect other insects to feed their young, and expand the nest.

Unlike some insects, yellow jackets colonies die off in winter, leaving only the mated queens to overwinter and start a new colony next spring, according to OSU Extension Service.

Surviving the Cold

• Queens: Mated queens find protected sites to hibernate, such as siding, wood piles, or underground spaces.
• Workers: Workers, on the other hand, do not survive winter and perish when temperatures drop.

Comparing yellow jackets and honey bees in winter:

While yellow jackets can be mistaken for bees as they share similar functions, such as pollination and foraging for insects, it is crucial to understand their differences, especially during winter. Being aware of their life cycle and survival strategies can ease concerns, prevent habitat destruction, and promote a safer environment for both humans and beneficial insects.

Nesting Habits

Location

Yellow jackets typically build their nests either underground or in dark, protected spaces like tree stumps, hollow logs, attics, and manmade structures¹. They can also be found nesting in the soil, especially in wet areas².

Characteristics

Yellow jacket nests are made of a papery material, often grey in color, and can have exposed cells³. They have distinct characteristics based on their location:

• Underground Nests:
  • Single entrance hole
  • Can be observed in the ground⁴
• Above-Ground Nests:
  • Found in sheltered locations like tree stumps and hollow logs⁵
  • Generally referred to as “hornet” nests⁶

Pros:

• Consume harmful insects
• Beneficial to gardens and agriculture⁷

Cons:

• Aggressive when disturbed
• Their stings can be painful

Yellow Jackets Inside Buildings

Reasons for Invading

Yellow jackets may invade houses or other manmade structures in search of a suitable nesting location, such as in attics or wall voids. They are also attracted to light and may enter indoors through windows or doors left open.

How to Prevent Entry

• Caulking: Seal any gaps or cracks in your home’s exterior by applying caulk.
• Entrances: Regularly check and repair any damage to doors and windows that can provide entrances for yellow jackets.
• Exterminator: If you’ve spotted a yellow jacket nest in your house, call a professional exterminator who can safely remove it.

Comparison Table: Yellow Jackets Prevention Methods

Examples of common entry points for yellow jackets:

• Damaged or loose window screens
• Vents or openings in the attic or roof
• Gaps around doors or windows

It is crucial to act promptly and prevent yellow jackets from invading your house as they can create nests inside, becoming a potential threat to occupants.

Behavior and Diet

Aggressiveness

Yellow jackets are known for their aggressive behavior, particularly when their nests are disturbed. For instance, if a person accidentally steps on an underground nest, yellow jackets will emerge, potentially stinging the individual multiple times. Their stings can be painful and, in some cases, lead to severe allergic reactions.

In late summer and early fall, yellow jackets become even more aggressive due to their increasing need for sugary food sources, such as nectar and sugary liquids. This aggressiveness can be dangerous for humans and other animals.

Yellow Jacket Food Preferences

Yellow jackets are opportunistic feeders, consuming a wide range of foods. Here’s a summary of their dietary preferences:

• Insects: Flies, spiders, and caterpillars are primary prey for yellow jackets, making them beneficial around home gardens and commercially grown fruits and vegetables.
• Sugary substances: In late summer and early fall, yellow jackets develop a strong appetite for sugar, feeding on flowers’ nectar and other sugary liquids. They will also scavenge for food in open trash cans, pet food dishes, and picnics.

Yellow Jacket Diet Comparison Table

Yellow jacket queens overwinter after mating, and in the spring, they create new colonies by laying eggs. The larvae that hatch from these eggs are fed by worker yellow jackets, who primarily hunt insects like caterpillars, flies, and spiders. During this time, their feedings may overlap with hornets who similarly target insects as food sources. Yellow jackets do not produce honey, unlike some other stinging insects.

In summary, yellow jackets are opportunistic feeders with aggressive tendencies, especially when defending their nests or searching for sugar-rich food sources in the late summer and early fall. They are both beneficial and potentially harmful, depending on their behavior and the circumstances surrounding their interactions with humans and other animals.

Control and Removal

DIY Methods

• Spray: Use a yellow jacket insecticide spray directly on the nest entrance when the insects are less active, such as early morning or late evening. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Lawnmower method: Run a lawnmower near the nest to create vibrations that can cause the yellow jackets to flee. However, this method may be risky, as it may provoke the insects to attack.
• Container trap: Create a simple trap by suspending a container with bait, such as meat or sugary liquids, above a bowl of soapy water. The yellow jackets will be drawn to the bait, fall into the water, and drown.

When to Call Professionals

• Fall nests: Yellow jackets are likely to be more aggressive during the fall season. It is best to call a professional exterminator at this time.
• Location: If the nest is situated in a hard-to-reach area, such as under a bush, in a wall, or near flowers, a professional pest control service may be necessary.
• Weather exposure: Yellow jackets may become more active and aggressive if their nest is exposed to harsh weather. In this case, calling a professional is a safer option.

Bug Control Recommendation Tool

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Yellow Jackets’ Impact on Other Species

Competing with Bees

Yellow jackets are known to compete with various species of bees, such as honeybees, for food resources. Some of the main conflicts between these two insects include:

• Food: Both yellow jackets and bees rely on nectar and insects as their primary food sources, leading to competition.
• Aggressiveness: Yellow jackets can be more aggressive than bees when it comes to defending their territory, making it difficult for bees to coexist in the same area.

Example: Yellow jackets might invade honeybee hives to steal honey and larvae, further threatening the survival of honeybee colonies.

Comparison Table:

Natural Predators

Despite their aggressive nature, yellow jackets have a number of natural predators:

• Bald-faced hornets: These social wasps are known to prey on yellow jackets and their larvae.
• Spiders: Various spiders, such as orb-weavers, trap and eat yellow jackets that get caught in their web.
• Birds: Some bird species, like the European magpie, have been known to prey on yellow jackets.
• Mammals: Moles, shrews, and even bats are known to prey on yellow jacket queens during their winter hibernation.

Characteristics of Natural Predators:

• Bald-faced hornets: Large, aggressive, predominantly black with white markings
• Spiders: Webs used for trapping prey, some species possessing venomous bites
• Birds: Aerial predators, beaks adapted to prey on insects
• Mammals: Opportunistic predators, mainly targeting queens during hibernation

By understanding the impact of these factors on yellow jackets, we can gain a better perspective on their role within the ecosystem and their interactions with other species.

Unique Cases

Florida’s Super Nests

In some regions, like Florida, yellow jackets are known to create super nests. These massive nests are rare but can host thousands of these stinging insects. A few factors contribute to their formation:

• Milder winters, allowing colonies to thrive
• Increased food sources (due to human activities)

The super nest phenomenon contrasts with the regular yellow jacket nesting habits, where most of the colony dies off and the mated queens hibernate during the cold months¹.

Allergic Reactions to Stings

Yellow jackets are known for their aggressive behavior, especially when they feel threatened or their nest is disturbed². People who encounter these insects should be cautious, as their stings can cause painful allergic reactions, sometimes even life-threatening. Some symptoms of an allergic reaction include:

• Swelling
• Difficulty breathing
• Nausea

It’s essential to seek immediate medical attention if experiencing an allergic reaction to a yellow jacket sting³.