How long do Wasps Live?

There are many types of pests that inhabit Colorado. One of the most infamous maybe the wasp. The bane of any backyard barbeque, wasps are known to terrorize families trying to enjoy the outdoors throughout the spring and summer. They seem like an unstoppable threat until the cold weather hits. But how long do wasps live? Will you experience the same few wasps all year, or is it rare to see the same wasp twice? Bee Smart Pest Control had the answers, and they start with the life cycle of the wasp.

The Wasp Life Cycle

Most insects have clear stages that they move through during their life. Wasps are no different. The average wasp starts its life when its egg is laid by the queen. The queen of the wasp hibernates during the winter. Then when the weather gets warm she goes and finds a good place for her new nest. Once a suitable spot for her nest is found, she makes a small nest and starts laying eggs. Before long, they’ll start hatching into new wasp larvae.

Larvae

Typically the eggs hatch in 5 to 8 days before they emerge as fresh wasp larvae. The larvae are feed substances that are high in sugars, like nectar, to grow. Then, after about 15 days the larvae spin themselves and their cell. That’s when they start to pupate.

Pupa

The wasps pupate into their adult form, slowly changing shape and growing all of their necessary bits. The color of the pupa starts off light, nearly white. As time goes on, the pupa will change color into the colors of the slowly forming wasp. When the wasp is done pupating they’ll break out of their cells.

Adulthood

Once the wasps are adults they’ll start working for the hive. They’ll be both protecting the hive, as well as collecting food for the colony. Adult wasps live to help the queen expand her empire. That includes taking over the hive building and expanding.

So How Long do Wasps Live?

Once a wasp is an adult, how long do they live? Typically, a wasp drone lives for about four to six weeks. However, that’s just the basic worker wasp. Many of those are born every day, all summer. On the other hand, the queen wasps live much longer. They live between eight and twelve months.

Call a Professional if You Have an Infestation

Wasps live long enough to make your whole summer more difficult. If you want to make sure you don’t have a wasp problem, contact Bee Smart Pest Control. We offer many pest control programs to keep your home safe year-round, and Bee Smart Pest Control will help you get a personalized solution. Bee Smart Pest Control is a local business, so we understand the nuances of Colorado pest control and use chemicals that aren’t harmful to your family or pets. We pride ourselves on our safety and ability to relate to our customers on a personal level. Contact Bee Smart Pest Control online, or call us at 720-937-0527, to get a solution for your exact pest control problem today![