Why Are Wasps Around Bee Hives in Late Summer? A Lincolnshire Beekeeper Explains
- Jul 22
- 7 min read
Updated: Jul 23
Why Are Wasps Around Bee Hives in Late Summer?
Late summer is one of the busiest times in the apiary. As the honey harvest comes to an end, another familiar visitor begins to appear around our hives – the wasp. But why are they suddenly so interested in honeybee colonies, and what happens when they try to get inside?
A Dramatic Moment at the Hive Entrance
During one of our recent hive inspections here in the Lincolnshire Wolds, we captured a fascinating moment on video. A wasp attempted to enter one of our hives, only to be met by several determined guard bees. Within seconds, the workers surrounded the intruder and dragged it away from the entrance.
We shared the video on TikTok because it's one of those moments that many people never get to witness, and it perfectly demonstrates just how organised a honeybee colony really is.
The video also prompted one of the questions we're asked every summer:
"Why are there so many wasps around the bee hives?"
The answer lies in the changing seasons.
The Changing Countryside
Here in Lincolnshire, late July and August bring noticeable changes to the countryside. The bright yellow oilseed rape fields have long disappeared, many hedgerow flowers have finished blooming, and both bees and wasps have to work much harder to find reliable food sources.
Earlier this year we wrote about how the end of the oilseed rape flowering season changes what our bees are able to forage on.
As nectar becomes scarcer, competition for food naturally increases.
The Life Cycle of a Wasp
Unlike honeybees, wasps only live together for one season.
Everything begins in spring when a single queen emerges from hibernation. Having survived the winter tucked away under loose bark, inside sheds or other sheltered places, she starts building a small paper nest using chewed wood fibres mixed with saliva.
She lays the first eggs herself and cares for the developing larvae until they become workers.
Once those workers emerge, they take over the daily jobs of expanding the nest, collecting food and feeding the next generation, allowing the queen to concentrate solely on laying eggs. The workers collect protein in the form of insects and spiders for the developing larvae. They are rewarded with a sugary syrup, this giving them energy to go collect more protein food for developing larvae.
Throughout spring and early summer, the colony grows rapidly and can eventually contain several thousand workers. once there is enough workers new queens will be laid.
By late summer, however, things begin to change.
Most of the larvae have matured, meaning the workers no longer receive the sugary secretions the larvae produce. At exactly the same time, flowers become less abundant and natural nectar sources begin to decline.
Suddenly, thousands of hungry wasps are searching for sugar wherever they can find it.
That's why they're often seen around gardens, picnic tables, fruit trees... and beehives.
Why Do Wasps Target Beehives in August and September?
To a hungry wasp, a bee hive is an attractive opportunity.
Honeybees have spent months collecting nectar and carefully storing honey to see the colony through winter. That honey represents an energy-rich food source that's well worth investigating.
A single wasp rarely poses a threat to a strong colony, but if enough wasps discover a weak hive, they may repeatedly attempt to steal honey or catch individual bees.
Fortunately, honey bees have their own security team.
Meet the Guard Bees
Not every worker bee leaves the hive to collect nectar.
Older workers often become guard bees, standing watch at the hive entrance and checking every bee that returns.
Using scent, they can recognise members of their own colony and quickly identify anything that doesn't belong.
If a wasp attempts to enter, the guards react immediately.
As we saw during our recent video, several bees quickly surrounded the wasp, preventing it from entering the hive and eventually dragging it away from the entrance.
Watching this happen is a reminder that a honey bee colony behaves almost like one living organism, with every bee carrying out a specific role. At our apiaries around Louth and the Lincolnshire Wolds, wasp activity usually begins to increase from late July, becoming most noticeable throughout August as natural food sources become scarcer.
How Beekeepers Help
Late summer is one of the busiest periods of the beekeeping year.
As we begin harvesting honey and preparing colonies for autumn, we also keep a close eye on wasp activity.
Strong colonies are usually more than capable of defending themselves, but weaker colonies sometimes need a little help. Beekeepers may reduce the hive entrance, making it easier for fewer guard bees to protect the colony, while also ensuring no honey is left exposed around the apiary.
Many of the seasonal changes we're seeing now were beginning to develop in early summer.
The Difference Between Honeybees and Wasps in Lincolnshire
Although they often come into conflict at this time of year, honey bees and wasps have very different life cycles.
A wasp colony dies out each autumn. Only the newly mated queens survive the winter, ready to begin the whole process again the following spring.
Honey bees are different.
The entire colony survives the winter together by clustering around the queen and living on the honey they've spent all summer collecting.
That precious honey is exactly what our bees are working so hard to protect.
If you'd like to learn more about how our local honey reflects the flowers and landscapes of the Lincolnshire Wolds, have a read of:
Are Wasps Actually Useful?
It's easy to think of wasps as pests, especially when they interrupt a summer picnic or investigate a beehive.
In reality, they're an important part of our countryside.
Adult wasps help with pollination as they visit flowers for nectar, while their larvae are fed on caterpillars, aphids and other insects, making wasps valuable natural pest controllers in our gardens and farmland.
Like our honeybees, they're simply trying to survive and complete their life cycle before autumn arrives.
Nature at Work
One of the things we enjoy most about beekeeping is that every hive inspection teaches us something new.
Watching our guard bees defend their colony was a fascinating reminder of just how organised honeybees are and how every individual has an important role within the hive.
Late summer is a time of change across the Lincolnshire Wolds. The honey harvest is drawing to a close, forage is becoming scarcer, and both bees and wasps are preparing for the months ahead in very different ways.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are wasps attracted to beehives?
Late in the summer, natural food sources begin to decline. Honey stored inside a hive provides an attractive source of sugar, encouraging wasps to investigate.
Do wasps attack honey beehives?
Wasps don't usually attack strong honeybee colonies outright, but they will often try to enter the hive to steal honey or catch individual bees. Healthy colonies are normally well defended by guard bees, while weaker colonies may be more vulnerable during late summer.
Can wasps destroy a bee hive?
A strong honey bee colony will usually defend itself successfully. Weaker colonies can be more vulnerable, which is why beekeepers monitor them closely during late summer.
How do beekeepers protect their bees from wasps?
As late summer approaches, beekeepers keep a close eye on their colonies. Strong, healthy hives are usually able to defend themselves, but we may reduce the hive entrance on weaker colonies, avoid leaving exposed honey around the apiary and regularly monitor wasp activity.
Why are wasps so aggressive in August and September?
Wasps become aggressive in late summer because their nests stop producing larvae, cutting off their primary sugar supply just as natural nectar sources die out.
What happens to wasps in winter?
The old queen, workers and the rest of the colony die as temperatures fall. Only newly mated queens survive the winter to start new nests the following spring.
Do honey bees kill wasps?
Honeybees defend their hive when necessary. Guard bees work together to prevent wasps entering the colony, protecting both the queen and the honey stores.
Do Louth beekeepers remove wasp nests?
Most beekeepers in and around Louth do not routinely remove wasp nests. Wasps are an important part of our native wildlife and help control garden pests such as caterpillars and aphids. If a nest is not causing a problem, it's usually best to leave it alone, as the colony will naturally die out in autumn. Only the newly mated queens survive the winter to start new nests the following spring.
Who should I call for wasp nest removal in Lincolnshire?
If a wasp nest is inside your home, roof space or somewhere it poses a risk to people or pets, it's best to contact a qualified pest control company. Never attempt to remove a large or active wasp nest yourself.
Are wasps protected in the UK ?
No. Common wasps are not protected by law in the UK in the same way that some wildlife species are. However, they remain an important part of our ecosystem, helping with pollination and acting as natural predators of many garden pests. Wherever possible, we believe nests should be left undisturbed unless they present a genuine safety risk.
How to Keep Wasps Away From Your Garden Naturally
While we protect our Louth hives by reducing entrances, you can protect your patio by using these bee-safe tips:
Hang a fake nest: Wasps are highly territorial and will avoid areas where they think another colony lives.
Use peppermint oil: Wasps dislike strong herbal scents, which won't bother local honeybees.
Cover food and bins: Starving autumn wasps are drawn to any open sugar or protein sources.
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