A single queen initiates a nest in the spring by constructing an embryonic nest, which contains a series of hexagonal cells.
These cells are used to house one wasp through the immature stages of life: egg, larval instar, and pupa.
The colony grows rapidly during the summer with a huge increase in worker numbers and nest size.
By the end of summer, the rate of growth slows considerably and more males are produced than workers, and the focus is shifted from building small cells to building cells that are 30-40 percent larger.
These new cells house the new queens and males.
In the fall, the new queens begin hibernation, while the old queens die off and the colony collapses.
In some cases, the nests may survive through the winter and reach the next season.
If this occurs, the nest will become polygynous and reach a much larger size than in the previous year.

V. germanica nests are strongly affected by climate.
Average colonies in Australia contain over 9500 small workers and 3600 large queen and male cells.
By the end of May, colonies in Australia have 15,000 wasps emerging from small cells and 2500 wasps emerging from the large cells.
By comparison, nests in the British Isles only have 6100–6500 small cells and 1500 large cells on average, in roughly eight combs.
Additionally, a significant number of nests in Australia are able to survive the winter, whereas in England none of the nests survive.
This demonstrates how V. germanica nests can reach a substantial size in appropriate climate conditions.
A single queen initiates a nest in the spring by constructing an embryonic nest, which contains a series of hexagonal cells. These cells are used to house one wasp through the immature stages of life: egg, larval instar, and pupa. The colony grows rapidly during the summer with a huge increase in worker numbers and nest size. By the end of summer, the rate of growth slows considerably and more males are produced than workers, and the focus is shifted from building small cells to building cells that are 30-40 percent larger. These new cells house the new queens and males. In the fall, the new queens begin hibernation, while the old queens die off and the colony collapses. In some cases, the nests may survive through the winter and reach the next season. If this occurs, the nest will become polygynous and reach a much larger size than in the previous year.
V. germanica nests are strongly affected by climate. Average colonies in Australia contain over 9500 small workers and 3600 large queen and male cells. By the end of May, colonies in Australia have 15,000 wasps emerging from small cells and 2500 wasps emerging from the large cells. By comparison, nests in the British Isles only have 6100–6500 small cells and 1500 large cells on average, in roughly eight combs. Additionally, a significant number of nests in Australia are able to survive the winter, whereas in England none of the nests survive. This demonstrates how V. germanica nests can reach a substantial size in appropriate climate conditions.
Vespula germanica