The annual wasp plague is sometimes stronger, sometimes weaker. If so, then it is worst in late summer from August. However, the flight activity in the seasonal cycle of the wasp colonies begins much earlier - only then we do not perceive it as strongly.
The first wasps can be seen at the end of April
The seasonal development of the wasp state
In order to get an idea of when wasps start fledging in the year, some background knowledge about their colony formation and development is helpful. So let's go through the stations. Overall, state development can be broken down into the following phases:
1. Nest foundation by queen
2. First generation of workers
3. Offspring of other workers
4. Offspring of new queens and males
1. The laying of the foundation stone - hardly any wasps to be seen
The foundation stone for a wasp colony is laid by a single, fertilized female wasp that has survived the winter in a cold torpor - a so-called queen. In the spring, around April, she looks for a suitable shelter for a new nest. Here she alone begins to create the first brood cells from chewed wood. In it she lays a first round of eggs and raises them alone.
This time is the only phase when the queen herself flies out. You have to be very lucky to meet her. So if you see a wasp in April, it's almost certainly a queen - don't forget the respectful bow!
2. First generation of workers - isolated wasps to be seen
After about a month, a first group of workers has developed. These live exclusively for the offspring of other workers and finally the species-preserving sexual animals. As soon as the worker wasps hatch from their pupation, they start their job: and that consists of busy foraging for food. The queen now lays more eggs and stays in the nest. Hard-working helpers are now there for the procurement of food.
From the end of April or beginning of June we can spot one of these from time to time.
3. Offspring of other workers
From June more and more workers are bred and the presence of wasps in the air gradually increases.
4. Breeding of the reproductive animals
Finally, in August, the decisive phase of species protection for the next year begins: the important males and new queens are bred. Of course, these have to be looked after very well - which is why there is often a real wasp plague.