Why Wasps Seem More Aggressive in the Fall on Cape Cod
Fall wasps on Cape Cod can seem more aggressive and much more interested in people’s food. As summer ends, life changes inside yellowjacket and bald-faced hornet colonies. Hungry workers begin searching for new food sources, bringing them closer to picnics, trash cans, bird feeders and outdoor gatherings.
Why does this happen, and what should you do when wasps invite themselves to your fall picnic?
Why Are Yellowjackets More Noticeable in the Fall?
Social wasps live in colonies with a queen and female workers.
The queen lays the eggs. During spring and summer, the workers expand the nest, collect food and care for the developing larvae.
Nests that seemed to appear overnight were actually growing throughout the summer. People often do not notice them until the colony is large and activity around the entrance increases.
Unlike a honeybee colony, a yellowjacket or bald-faced hornet colony lasts only one year.
By late summer, the queen begins producing new queens and males instead of more workers. After mating, the new queens leave the nest and find protected places to spend the winter.
The old queen, workers and males die when freezing weather arrives. The newly mated queens are the only members of the colony that survive to begin new nests the following spring.
Why Are Fall Wasps Interested in Your Food?
Adult wasps hunt insects and collect other protein-rich foods for the larvae in their nest. The adult workers prefer sugary foods.
During much of the summer, wasp larvae give the workers a sweet liquid in return for being fed. Yes, the baby wasps help feed their adult sisters. Do not think too hard about it.
As fall approaches, fewer larvae remain in the nest. Other insects also become harder to find. The adult workers lose two of their usual food sources just as the colony reaches its largest size.
That is when they begin looking more aggressively for easy sources of sugar and protein. A cup of soda, ripe fruit, picnic food or open trash can suddenly looks very appealing.
In short, these girls are hangry.
How to Avoid Wasp Stings on Cape Cod
The colony is naturally nearing the end of its life, but you can still take a few steps to reduce your chance of being stung.
Cover Food and Drinks
Keep food and drinks covered while eating outside. Clean up spills promptly and make sure outdoor trash cans are closed securely.
Look into a drink before taking a sip, especially if it has been left uncovered.
Check Bird Feeders
Yellowjackets may be attracted to hummingbird feeders, fruit and other sweet foods placed outside for birds.
Clean leaking feeders and use guards designed to limit insect access. If wasps are gathering heavily around a feeder, consider taking it down temporarily.
Stay Calm
Do not swat at a wasp or make sudden movements. Even if you are frightened, fast movements can look like a threat.
Move away slowly and give the wasp space.
Keep Away From Nests
Social wasps are most likely to sting when they believe their nest is in danger.
Keep people and pets away from known nest locations. If a nest is not in a high-traffic area, leaving it alone may be the safest option.
If a nest is close to a doorway, walkway, play area or another place that cannot be avoided, contact a licensed pest management professional. Do not try to remove an active nest yourself.
Do Wasp Nests Survive a Cape Cod Winter?
Yellowjacket and bald-faced hornet colonies do not reuse their nests the following year.
Once freezing weather arrives, the workers, males and old queen die. Newly mated queens spend the winter in protected places before starting new nests in the spring.
An empty paper nest can be removed after the colony has died. Finding a nest in one location this year does not mean another colony will use that same nest next year.
Wasps Also Help Cape Cod Gardens
Fall picnic raids give social wasps a bad reputation, but they provide useful services during the rest of the year.
Wasps hunt caterpillars, flies and other insects to feed their young. This natural pest control helps protect gardens and landscapes. Adult wasps also visit flowers and can help move pollen from plant to plant.
We may notice them most when they want something from us, but wasps spend much of the year working quietly around us.
Cape Cod Insect Identification and Help
Not sure what kind of insect you found? Cape Cod Cooperative Extension can help.
Submit a photo through the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension insect identification form.
You can also contact Cape Cod Cooperative Extension Entomologist Escher Cattle:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 774-224-0182
