Wasp activity in the UK usually begins during spring as overwintering queens emerge and search for places to establish new nests. Colonies grow throughout the warmer months, with nuisance activity often becoming most noticeable during late summer.
Weather conditions can cause the exact timing to vary each year, but understanding the seasonal lifecycle can help you prepare before wasp numbers reach their peak.
SPRING: QUEENS BEGIN BUILDING NESTS
During spring, surviving queen wasps emerge from sheltered overwintering sites and begin searching for suitable nest locations.
Common nest sites include:
- Lofts and roof spaces
- Sheds and outbuildings
- Wall cavities
- Hedges and trees
- Underground spaces
- Unused animal burrows
The queen begins constructing a small nest and produces the first worker wasps. At this stage, the nest may only be around the size of a golf ball.
EARLY SUMMER: THE COLONY GROWS
Once the first workers develop, they take over feeding the larvae, gathering building material and expanding the nest. The queen then concentrates on producing more eggs.
Worker wasps hunt caterpillars, aphids, flies and other insects to feed the developing larvae. This makes wasps beneficial garden predators during much of the summer.
You may notice wasps travelling along repeated routes between the nest and their feeding areas.
LATE SUMMER: WASP ACTIVITY PEAKS
Wasp colonies can become much larger by late summer. At the same time, the colony begins to change and workers may have less access to the sugary secretions produced by developing larvae.
This encourages them to look elsewhere for sugar, which is why wasps frequently gather around:
- Ripe and fallen fruit
- Fizzy drinks and fruit juice
- Beer, cider and wine
- Ice cream and desserts
- Outdoor bins and food waste
- Picnics and outdoor dining areas
July, August and September are often the months when nuisance activity becomes most noticeable, although temperature and local conditions will affect this.
AUTUMN: COLONIES BEGIN TO DECLINE
As temperatures fall and food becomes less available, the existing colony begins to die. The old queen and worker wasps do not normally survive the winter.
Newly produced and mated queens leave the nest to find sheltered overwintering sites. These queens may emerge the following spring to begin the cycle again.
Old nests are generally abandoned and are not reused in the following year, although a suitable building can contain a new nest in a different location.
WINTER: QUEENS OVERWINTER
Most people will see little social wasp activity during winter. Mated queens remain dormant in sheltered locations such as sheds, loft spaces, tree bark and building crevices.
A queen found indoors during a mild winter spell does not necessarily indicate an active nest. It may simply have been disturbed from its overwintering site.
WHEN SHOULD YOU PUT OUT A WASP TRAP?
Outdoor wasp traps can be deployed from spring as queens and early workers become active. Installing traps before nuisance activity reaches its peak allows you to establish them around problem areas early.
Continue using and checking the traps throughout summer and early autumn while wasps and flies remain active.
Useful locations include:
- Garden perimeters
- Patio boundaries
- Outdoor bin stores
- Fences away from seating
- Outdoor food service areas
Do not position a lure trap directly beside a dining table, doorway or seating area. The aim is to draw nuisance insects away from people rather than towards them.
WHEN IS WASP SEASON AT ITS WORST?
Many households experience the greatest nuisance activity during late summer and early autumn. Colonies have reached a substantial size and worker wasps are increasingly attracted to sweet food and drinks.
Warm weather can extend activity, while lower temperatures will cause colonies to decline. This means the end of the season can differ between regions and from one year to another.
DOES EVERY WASP NEST NEED TO BE REMOVED?
No. Wasps are useful predators and form an important part of garden biodiversity. A nest that is well away from people and does not present a risk can often be left undisturbed.
Consider professional advice when a nest is:
- Close to a door, window or frequently used path
- Inside a home or occupied building
- Near children’s play areas
- Creating a risk for someone with a sting allergy
- Located somewhere that cannot be approached safely
Do not block the entrance or attempt to disturb an established nest. This can cause wasps to become defensive or find another route into the building.
PREPARING FOR WASP SEASON
- Check sheds and outbuildings during spring
- Keep outdoor bins clean and closed
- Remove fallen and overripe fruit
- Rinse bottles and cans before recycling
- Clean sugary spillages promptly
- Deploy traps before activity reaches its peak
- Store food and drinks securely when eating outside
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What month do wasps become active in the UK?
Queen wasps usually begin emerging during spring. Activity then increases as colonies grow through late spring and summer.
What months are wasps most active?
Nuisance activity is often greatest during July, August and September, but warmer weather can extend the season.
Do wasps die during winter?
Most workers and old queens die as the colony declines. Newly mated queens overwinter and may establish new nests the following spring.
Do wasps return to the same nest?
Old social wasp nests are generally abandoned and are not reused. However, the same building or garden may provide another suitable nesting location.
When should I start using a wasp trap?
Deploy an outdoor trap during spring or early summer and continue using it while wasps remain active.
