Which yellowjacket life stage is the only one guaranteed to survive the winter by hibernating to initiate the next year's colony?
Answer
The queen
Yellowjacket colonies operate on a strictly annual cycle in most temperate climates, meaning the entire colony—workers, males, and the previous year's founding queen—perishes when the first hard frosts of late fall or early winter arrive. The survival mechanism relies solely on the newly mated queens that develop late in the season. These queens seek out secluded, protected hibernation spots, such as under loose bark or deep within leaf litter. In the spring, once temperatures warm sufficiently, this single surviving queen emerges, finds a suitable cavity or ground depression, and begins the arduous process of laying eggs and establishing a brand new colony structure from scratch, as old nests are rapidly abandoned and decompose.
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