Wasps
Key
Features of Wasps
Wasps are very well-known – large, conspicuous
buzzing insects with yellow and black striped, wasp-waisted
bodies, 10-15mm long. They have a sweet tooth at one
end and a painful sting at the other.
Biology
The queen wasp is larger (20mm) and she hibernates over
winter, making a nest in the spring in which to lay
her eggs. She feeds the grubs on insects until they
develop into worker wasps, three to four weeks later.
Workers, all sterile females, forage for over a mile
in search of food. One nest may produce 30,000 wasps
in a year. At their peak in August and September with
the youngsters reared, the workers turn to the sweet
food they prefer and become a nuisance wherever this
is available.
Distribution
There are two species of wasp native to the UK, and
several other European species have also been recorded
here. Wasp nests may be suspended from trees, nest boxes,
bee hives, rafters and dormer windows.
Significance
If annoyed or threatened, wasps will sting and the best
remedy - after removing the sting with a clean finger
nail - is to apply an anti-histamine. Some people react
violently to being stung with several dying each year.
Control
For minor problems with small numbers of adult wasps,
space sprays and surface sprays can be used to great
effect.
If wasps choose a nesting site in, on or near houses
and business premises, more drastic action may need
to be taken. Insecticidal dusts and liquid surface sprays
are some of the options for controlling problematic
wasp populations.
