THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE YELLOW-LEGGED HORNET:
The life cycle of the yellow-legged hornet (Vespa Velutina) typically involves several stages:
Founding Stage:
The life cycle begins in spring when a mated queen, which overwinters in a sheltered spot, emerges.
The queen searches for a suitable nesting site to start a new colony.
The queen builds a small nest and lays eggs, which develop into worker hornets.
Colony Growth:
As the worker hornets emerge, they take over foraging duties, allowing the queen to focus on laying eggs.
The colony grows in size throughout the spring and summer months.
During this time, the nest expands and can become more noticeable.
Reproductive Stage:
In late summer and early autumn, the colony reaches its peak size.
Reproductive individuals, including new queens and males, are produced.
Mated queens leave the nest to find suitable hibernation spots, while males and old queens remain in the colony.
Decline and Winter:
The colony begins to decline in the fall as the workers die off.
The old queen and males also perish, leaving only the newly mated queens to survive the winter.
Overwintering:
The mated queens seek sheltered locations to hibernate during the winter.
The following spring, the cycle begins again as the queens emerge and start new colonies.
It's crucial to monitor and control the spread of yellow-legged hornets, especially in regions where they are considered invasive. Reporting sightings to local authorities or organisations involved in pest control is important to manage and mitigate the impact of these hornets on local ecosystems and bee populations.
For the most current and region-specific information, consider in the UK checking with The National Bee Unit, Defra, or local environmental agencies or pest control authorities.