Do hornets die in the winter?

Males typically die soon after their sexual task is complete. In colder climes, hornet nests are abandoned in winter and only new, young queens (and their eggs) survive the season by finding protected areas under tree bark or even inside human dwellings. ... A hornet hive will eliminate many flies, bees, and other insects. read more

In the tropics, these nests may last year-round, but in temperate areas, the nest dies over the winter, with lone queens hibernating in leaf litter or other insulative material until the spring. Hornets are often considered pests, as they aggressively guard their nesting sites when threatened. read more

While wasps and hornet species exhibit subtle differences in nesting habits, most have similar life cycles -- workers and males die in the fall or winter, and only the mated queens survive. New queens hibernate over the winter and start new nests each spring. read more