The Yellow Jacket’s life cycle.

Since spring, these insect species have been building nests of extraordinarily sophisticated architecture, underground, suspended from tree branches, under the eaves, in shed rafters, or in wall cavities. Sometimes in abandoned cars. 

The wasp queen has been laying eggs that mature into adult workers that capture and kill caterpillars and other soft-bodied insects, that along with carrion serve as protein foods to feed their growing broods.

They sip flower nectar, rotting and damaged fruits, and tree sap to supply the energy to feed themselves. They also show up at barbecues and picnics, going after the meats (to feed their larvae) and the sweets (candy, desserts, sugary drinks) to furnish themselves with energy.

As fall progresses and supplies of prey insects and overripe fruit decline, the wasps become increasingly aggressive in defending their expanding nests. In late summer, the queen begins laying the eggs that will develop into potential queens and a few males (called drones) that will mate with them. In late fall, the workers, the drones, and the queen herself will all leave the nest, and die. Only the mated queens survive, burrowing into leaf litter and hibernating in suspended animation until spring. 

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