Wasps are most aggressive in late summer and early fall, roughly August through October. By then the colony has grown to its largest and the workers are competing for a tighter food supply, all of which makes them more defensive and far more likely to sting at your next picnic.
The same wasps that ignored you in June seem to come looking for trouble by late August. There's a clear seasonal reason for the change, and it follows the colony's life cycle.
Early in the season, colonies start small. They’re focused on hunting insects to feed their developing young. There aren’t as many wasps around in the first place and those that are around aren’t as interested in people. Through midsummer the colony builds toward its peak size, which for a yellow jacket nest can mean thousands of workers, so there are simply far more wasps in the area than there were in spring.
Late summer is when things get nasty. The queen stops producing new workers, the colony's usual food supply of insect prey and larvae dwindles, and the workers redirect toward sugars and proteins, the soda and the grill. Hungry, numerous, and defending a large nest, they're at their most aggressive. So in sum, you have more wasps and they’re angrier—never a good combo.
If you’re worried about wasps this season, the best thing you can do is simply not provoke them and not feed them. To do this, cover food and sweet drinks outdoors and keep lids tight on trash cans. Wasps can and do crawl into soda cans, and this is the frequent cause of the infamous “mouth sting.” Beyond that, resist swatting. That only makes them mad.
And if a large nest sits near a doorway or patio, late summer is exactly the wrong time to take it on yourself. Wasp nest removal can be dangerous, even if you’re not allergic, and it’s a good idea to call a pro if you need one taken down.
If you're tired of late-summer cookouts turning into a standoff with the wasps, Mosquito Squad of Franklin & Framingham can help. Mosquito Squad treats for wasps and other stinging pests before they reach peak aggression. This can help you protect your family with up to 90% reduction in mosquito activity on a 21-day cycle through the season.
