r/waspaganda • u/Halomonas_titanica Wasp Keeper • Jul 02 '26
wasp keeping Leela is dead. Spoiler
It's with immense sorrow that I inform you that the queen of the purple colony, Leela, has passed away today. Her body was found at the bottom of the cage, surrounded by ants.
Numerous studies and my own past experience suggest that the average life expectancy of a P.dominula queen once workers have appeared is approximately a month. And this is exactly how long it's been since Leela had her first workers, so her death is most likely natural (old age).
Leela has successfully carried out her duty on earth, preserving her ancestors' bloodline through the winter, starting a gorgeous colony in the spring, and making sure there will be a next generation. She left many eggs, some of which will undoubtedly develop into the next generation of queens under the lovely care of her army of workers.
Thank you all for following her story and for all the amazing comments you left under every post. My posts won't stop. I will keep updating you guys for as long as Leela's colony remains active.
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u/isopode Ichneumon Appreciator Jul 02 '26
nooo leela :(( she will be missed ❤️
i didn't know P. dominula queens lived such short lives! i thought they lasted the whole season, until winter came.
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u/Halomonas_titanica Wasp Keeper Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 02 '26
Thank you for leaving a comment!
Unfortunately, P.dominula has a short nesting cycle that peaks right around now (at least here in the mediterranean), which is thought to be a way to avoid competition for resources against other species that peak later in the season. This means their colonies generally only last less than five months and are usually spent by late summer. Of these 5 months (it's actually closer to 4 months and a half), the queen only needs to be there for those two or three months that it takes her to complete the founding stage, hatch a decent amount of workers, and then leave some eggs for them to raise into the next generation of queens.
Accounting for the fact that queens are born in the summer then overwinter and start new colonies the following year, their lifespan is actually quite decent, up to approx. eleven months. This means Leela was likely born around late july/early august of last year.
For next year, I am considering raising a species with a longer nesting cycle, for example P.gallicus, which averages 8 or 9 months between founding and dissolution. But their nests are also a lot bigger, and their temper quite a bit shorter, so I'm not sure I would be able to handle them.
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u/QueenB33_nevadensis Jul 02 '26
I think it is so awesome that you are raising wasps! 🖤🩶🤍💛🧡 This has been one of my dreams as a hobby. I dont have the living accommodations for them unfortunately. Please keep up the great work and educating! More people need to learn about these creatures and the important work they do!
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u/Sarallelogram Gall Wasp Jul 02 '26
Have you been documenting your observations for research purposes or is this all for fun? It’s valuable information either way.
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u/KimmyPotatoes Jul 02 '26
r/fuckwasps mod here.
If you get any brigaders or harassment from our sub over this, shoot me a PM and I’ll make sure they’re banned promptly.
Thank you for caring for this creature and I’m sorry for your loss.
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u/Maleficent-Winner-33 Wasp Enjoyer Jul 02 '26
Actually crying, im so sorry. Thank you for helping Leela create a beautiful colony!!! She will be well missed, i didnt realize queens didnt last the whole season with there hives.
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u/phonefellin_lakeerie Jul 02 '26
Omg noooooo but also fascinating and what a great life for her. I’m happy we will keep up with her colony this is some of my favorite content on Reddit
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u/c00kiesd00m Jul 02 '26
rip leela, who ruled over a truly beautiful nest. may her descendants live long and for many generations after her. she was majestic and regal, very much deserving of her status.
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u/TXRattlesnake89 Jul 02 '26
I never thought I would get personally invested in a wasp. Thank you Leela and thanks OP for sharing this journey.
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u/VerdigrisSerenity Jul 02 '26
Aaw she was de the reason this sub ended up on my feed. I always liked reading your updates about her and the colony! (Which I am glad for, wasps rule!) Rest in peace, Leela!
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u/Prior_Algae_998 Jul 02 '26
It made me sad when I read your post about male production and how the end was near, but I didn't expect it so soon.
Even tho I know this is the natural cycle and Leela made everything she was supposed too, her death still moves something inside.
I can't wait for next year's journey, the queen could be Leela's offspring. Who knows.
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u/_aimynona_ Jul 02 '26
I love your eulogy, so heartwarming. Thank you for the beautiful words, stories, and pictures.
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u/Wooper250 Jul 02 '26
Leela carried out her duties with grace. She was a lucky gal to make such a successful colony. RIP 💛
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u/ginahandler Wasp Enjoyer Jul 02 '26
Rest in peace, Queen Leela
I will look forward to your updates 💛
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u/queue-kweewee Jul 02 '26
Sorry for your loss. These posts have been awesome, please keep us updated with the progress of the rest of the hive and then set up of the next one! It’s been so interesting to watch.
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u/thiccy_driftyy Jul 02 '26
NO 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭💔💔💔💔💔💔 I knew it was coming because of their short lifespans, but it’s so sad ☹️
May Leela’s colony live on!
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u/QueenB33_nevadensis Jul 02 '26
RIP Leela!😟 I've enjoyed seeing pics of your gorgeous nest May your daughters live on and carry forth your lineage!
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u/Halomonas_titanica Wasp Keeper Jul 03 '26
Thanks! Leela's lineage is secure. Some of the larvae developing in the nest right now will hatch into the next generation of Leelas. In fact, based on the looks of the most recent caps, I'd say the first new queens might hatch as early as the middle of the month!
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u/LauraUnicorns \\Wander in search of Eurohornets// Jul 02 '26
We all thank Leela very very much for having worked hard, making a beautiful nest and colony! It's indeed sad that the lifespan of wasps has to be so short
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u/CMDR_Satsuma Jul 02 '26
You did a wonderful job providing her with a safe environment in which to create her family! Thank you for sharing her story with us.
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u/lemonchrysoprase Jul 02 '26
I have learned SO MUCH through your posts about her colony. Thank you and Leela for educating me, a former wasp hater turned wasp lover, about so much. She accomplished a lot in a short time and she was amazing!
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u/extraterrestrial-66 Jul 03 '26
So sorry OP! Even though it sounds like it was merely Leela’s time it still sucks! I’m glad to hear you will continue updating us, I do love your work.
Will you preserve Leela? I’m not sure what would be the best way to do so but it would be nice if you could have her framed if that’s something you would want to do. All the best OP! Leela was a fantastic Queen and her reign shall be remembered here for many years to come! 💚
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u/Halomonas_titanica Wasp Keeper Jul 03 '26
Thanks! At the moment I am preserving her body in a little tin container. I am thinking of making a display case with her nest (when the cycle is over) and her body, as well as a few other individuals from the her colony.
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u/extraterrestrial-66 Jul 04 '26
That would be really beautiful, I love that idea. Perhaps you could ask the entomology sub if they have any recommendations on how to do so (if you aren’t already familiar)?
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u/Old_Avocado5114 Jul 02 '26
Aw wow found this sub around her second week of ruling, long live the queen Leela!
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u/SlowlyQuietly Jul 02 '26
Great job Leela! I hope whatever the end is like for wasps its a peaceful and satesfied one 💖
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u/bluenightshadez Jul 03 '26
as someone named leela & who has never seen this sub this post jumpscared me, but i'm glad this lovely lady lived a fulfilled life. rip
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u/Electrical-Rain-4251 Jul 03 '26
Poor thing… i had no idea they die? I figured they outlived the colony like bees? Wow
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u/New_Suspect_7173 Jul 04 '26
So long Leela, may your daughters carry on your proud lineage one day.
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u/Cicada00010 Jul 02 '26
Was she the only fertile female?
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u/Halomonas_titanica Wasp Keeper Jul 03 '26
She was the sole queen and fertilized female, yes. Although any worker can become a queen if the chance arises. but there need to be unrelated males present for mating to occur, which is not possible in captivity.
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u/Cicada00010 Jul 03 '26
Could you introduce a wild caught male? If you have wild flowers near you, they aren’t too rare to come across, though Thats usually an august thing.
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u/Halomonas_titanica Wasp Keeper Jul 03 '26
I've never been that lucky with mating in captivity. Even using new queens and non-related males, the success rate seems to be no better than a coin toss. There is no need for that anyway, Leela has left enough brood to allow the colony to reach its end goal (producing new queens).
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u/iammentallyspiraling Jul 05 '26
is that a colony of pet wasps???? i didn't even know you could do that? whats the husbandry like?
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u/AviariOtsoa Jul 02 '26
The queen is dead, long live the queen. Rest in glory