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Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025

Do worker wasps die when temperatures drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit?

Deanna Pistono, MinnPost
no

While worker wasps become unable to fly in temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, they are still able to maintain life.

Most wasps die after temperatures drop below freezing (32 F) with the exception of queen wasps. The queens, which are able to lay eggs, will instead go into diapause, a state in which they stop developing and wait out harsh conditions – in this case, the cold. After conditions improve, they will be able to emerge and begin a new nest. 

Before going into diapause, queen wasps look for areas where they will be relatively protected from the elements. These are generally enclosed spaces or near some form of heat, from the inside of a log or under some bark to cracks in buildings and areas near heat vents. 

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