Wasp populations build gradually from spring through midsummer. Then, they peak in late August and September when colonies reach maximum size.
If it feels like wasps get worse with each passing day in the summer, then you’re onto something. That’s an accurate observation based on the biology of wasp colonies.
It all starts in spring. Overwintering queen wasps come out of sheltered spots like the area behind siding, under bark, and in attics. Then, they build nests from scratch. In April and May around Princeton, you might notice a single wasp constructing a small paper nest under an eave or inside a grill cover. At this stage, colonies are tiny. The queen is alone or has only a handful of workers, and the nest is easy to remove.
But over the course of June and July, the colony steadily grows. The queen focuses on egg production while workers handle construction, foraging, and defense. Nests that were golf-ball sized in May can reach the size of a football or larger by midsummer. Activity around the nest increases, but the wasps are primarily focused on hunting caterpillars, flies, and other insects to feed their larvae.
Wasps are at their absolute worst in August and September. By this time, the colony has reached its peak population, sometimes numbering in the hundreds or thousands depending on the species. The last generation of the season includes new queens and males, and behavior changes to become more aggressive.
Workers that spent the summer hunting insects pivot to seeking out sugar. Suddenly, they want your soda, your fruit plate, and your kid’s juice box. That’s why yellow jackets love crashing a good picnic.
Colonies also become more defensive as the season goes on. A nest you walked past safely in June may trigger a response in August simply because there are more defenders inside. This is why it’s always easier to deal with wasps early on. Removing nests in spring is less risky than dealing with a fully established colony in late summer.
For Princeton homeowners who'd rather not fight wasps on their own, Mosquito Squad of Princeton can help. Mosquito Squad provides stinging insect control that includes nest identification, safe removal, and treatment of surrounding areas. A technician will walk your property, find out where the wasps are, and then treat the areas and take down nests.
