Solitary wasps live by themselves and, while common, aren’t what people generally think of when they think of wasps. Social wasps, like yellowjackets and paper wasps, are the ones that come to mind, as they build nests and serve queens. The two varieties have different reproductive cycles that can affect how long they live. Social wasps can actually die of loneliness! They need to be around their colony to maintain a level of energy necessary to live. A social wasp separated from their hive can die in mere days. Almost makes you feel a little bad for them!
While they won’t go out of their way to attack people (contrary to popular belief), wasps will fearlessly protect their nests if discovered. Most stings happen when a nest is stumbled upon in its hiding place. [4] X Research source
Some wasps can actually survive a while without food! It depends on the species and the season, their metabolism can be slow enough to keep them kicking for longer than normal. A worker wasp who’s just eaten and has moved into autumn will live a little longer if deprived of food. [7] X Research source A hibernating queen can live several weeks without food. Their metabolism is extremely slow during this period, so whatever they eat in autumn usually lasts longer. That said, if the temperature rises suddenly, it may prompt them out of hibernation early, which can lead to them starving. [8] X Research source
