Why are there so many wasps in the garden during autumn? Discover why wasp activity increases at this time of year.
As summer draws to a close and the first signs of autumn begin appearing in our gardens, you may have noticed something else too: wasps seem to be everywhere!
Whether they’re hovering around your afternoon drink, investigating fallen fruit or making themselves a little too comfortable at your outdoor lunch, late summer and early autumn are famously busy times for wasps.
But why do there suddenly seem to be so many of them?
Autumn is peak wasp season
By late summer, wasp colonies have reached their largest size. A nest that began with just one queen in spring can now contain thousands of worker wasps, all busily searching for food.
Throughout the summer, worker wasps have an important role to play. They hunt insects and other small creatures to feed the developing larvae in the nest. In return, the larvae produce a sweet substance that helps provide the workers with the energy they need.
As the season changes and fewer larvae are being raised, that reliable source of sweetness disappears. The worker wasps then have to find sugary food elsewhere – which is where your picnic, fizzy drink or slice of cake can suddenly become extremely interesting!
Why do wasps love autumn fruit so much?
Autumn gardens are full of tempting treats for wasps.
Fallen apples, pears, plums and other ripening fruits provide plenty of sugar, particularly as the fruit begins to soften and ferment. This is why you may notice wasps gathering around fruit trees or buzzing around windfall fruit on the lawn.
If you have fruit trees in your garden, regularly collecting fallen fruit can help reduce the number of wasps congregating in one area. But remember that wasps are simply taking advantage of a natural seasonal food source – just as many birds and other wildlife do.
Wasps are more useful than we think
It can be difficult to appreciate wasps when one is circling your drink, but they actually play an important role in our gardens and the wider environment.
Wasps are excellent natural pest controllers. They hunt a wide variety of insects, including caterpillars and other garden pests, helping to keep insect populations under control.
Some wasps also contribute to pollination as they move between flowers in search of nectar.
So while they may be one of the less popular visitors to the garden, wasps are very much part of a healthy ecosystem.
How to enjoy your garden without attracting wasps
There are a few simple things you can do to make outdoor eating and relaxing a little more peaceful during wasp season. Some of them might seem a bit obvious, the trick is to remember them all!
- Keep sweet drinks covered, particularly outdoors.
- Clear away food quickly after eating.
- Pick up fallen fruit regularly from lawns and patios.
- Keep bins closed and make sure food waste is securely contained.
- Avoid swatting at wasps, as sudden movements can make them feel threatened.
- Stay calm and move away slowly if a wasp comes close.
It can be tempting to panic when a wasp starts buzzing around you, but most are simply investigating potential food.
When will the wasps disappear?
As temperatures fall and autumn progresses, most worker wasps die naturally. Only newly fertilised queens typically survive the winter, finding sheltered places to hibernate before emerging in spring to begin new colonies.
So while September can often feel like the height of wasp season, cooler weather will eventually bring some relief.
A little patience goes a long way…!
So, if it feels as though wasps are suddenly everywhere, you’re not imagining it. Late summer and early autumn are when colonies are at their biggest and worker wasps are actively searching for sugary food.
The good news? This busy period doesn’t last forever. Once the weather turns colder, wasp numbers will begin to fall dramatically.
Until then, keep an eye on those fallen apples, cover your drinks and try not to panic when one decides your afternoon tea looks particularly appealing!
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