York Pest Control: Why Wasps Are Aggressive During the Fall

Why Wasps Are Aggressive During the Fall

Wasps are active throughout the summer and can make nuisances of themselves in parks and playgrounds, and possibly in your yard or home. You cannot do anything about wasps in public places, but wasp removal in your home can help protect you and your family. It is a good idea to take this step as soon as possible because as the weather cools down with fall’s approach, the wasps can become more aggressive than they were during the summer. Here are some of the reasons why.

They Are Protecting Their Queen

The queen is the most important member of a wasp colony. She is the one responsible for populating the nest by laying eggs, and she is also the only member of the colony that will survive the winter months to re-establish the colony in the spring. The other wasps in the colony may not understand that the queen is the only member of their colony that will survive, but they do know instinctively that she is the most important and part of their job is to protect her. Therefore, wasps can become particularly aggressive if they perceive a threat to their nest, which the queen rarely leaves. You may experience multiple stings if you get too close, even by accident.

They Are Trying To Keep Warm

A queen wasp has the ability to enter a state of dormancy to survive the cold winter months. However, most of the wasps in the nest cannot tolerate cold temperatures. When winter comes, they will all die off, but as the temperature starts dropping, they may become more active trying to keep warm.

Even though most of the wasps in the nest will die towards the end of fall, you should still take wasp removal steps if you find one on your property. If you have a nest on or near your house, the queen may crawl inside your house to spend the winter. Upon becoming active again in spring, the queen may establish a new nest in the exact same place. Pest control in York Region allows you to break this cycle.

They Are Looking for Food

The queen wasp lays eggs in the spring and continues throughout the summer. Worker wasps hunt other insects to feed the larvae. The larvae then secrete a nourishing substance that feeds the adults. By fall, however, the larvae are growing into adults and the workers no longer have this source of food. They have to feed on the nectar of flowers instead. As fall progresses toward winter and the weather cools off, the flowers start dying off as well. A lack of food can put the wasps under stress, which may result in more aggressive behaviour. In their desperation to find food, wasps may turn to picnic foods, such as ice cream and soft drinks, to provide the carbohydrates they need.

Their Nest Is Full

Since a queen wasp has to re-establish the colony every year, their numbers start small. As the queen lays more eggs and the larvae mature into adults, the wasps’ numbers continue to grow throughout the season. By the fall, the nest has reached its full capacity, which may mean thousands of wasps in a single colony. The sheer numbers increase the chances that you might see and, if you are unlucky, get stung by a wasp. Additionally, the fact that the wasps’ food supply is dwindling just as their numbers are reaching their apex may account for some more aggressive behaviour than usual.

Why You Should Hire Truly Nolen for Wasp Removal

Do-it-yourself attempts at wasp removal could cause you to get stung. A single wasp sting is bad enough on its own, but the first wasp releases pheromones that trigger others to attack. Multiple wasp stings can be dangerous. Our technicians can keep you safe while removing wasps from your property. Find out more about the services we offer in York Region.