The Lifecycle

Spring
• Queen emerges from hibernation
• Feeds on sugary food to build up strength
• Starts primary nest & rapidly lays eggs to start the colony

Summer
• Build secondary nest - grows to around 6000 individuals
• Start feeding on bees in July & can continue to  November

Autumn
• Ca. 350 queens mate
• New queens hibernate
• Workers, drones and old queen die & nest dwindles away