Asian Hornet Lifecycle

After hibernating through winter, the queen emerges to establish a new colony. She searches for suitable nesting sites in sheltered locations.

• Single queen activity
• Nest site selection
• First cell construction
• Initial egg laying

The queen builds the initial nest and raises the first generation of workers. The colony remains small but grows steadily.

• Nest expansion begins
• First workers emerge
• Foraging activity increases
• Colony size: 50-100 individuals

Rapid colony expansion occurs as workers take over foraging and nest maintenance. This is when hornets become most visible and active.

• Peak foraging activity
• Maximum nest size
• Hunting of honeybees intensifies
• Colony size: 100-1500 individuals

The colony produces new queens and males. After mating, new queens seek hibernation sites while the old colony declines.

• Production of new queens
• Mating flights occur
• Old colony begins to die
• Queens seek hibernation sites