Description

The wasp is generally the most abundant and disliked of all British insects. The most common of these are the German Wasp and the Common Wasp. Their bodies have the characteristic black and yellow band across the abdomen. They are fairly large insects approx 14mm in length.

Although having beneficial qualities, wasps are generally regarded as being a nuisance. It is the wasps' ability to give a painful sting which makes these insects feared by members of the public.

Wasp nests may be found in roof spaces, wall cavities and air grates of buildings, hanging from trees as well as underground.

Life Cycle

In the Spring, the queen leaves her hibernation site and seeks a site for the nest. She constructs the nest from wood pulp which is moulded into the outer shell of the nest

The eggs are laid and tended by the queen until they hatch to produce the larvae which she also feeds and tends.

When fully grown the larvae pupate and from the pupae sterile workers emerge. These take over the job of building the main nest and foraging for food. Towards the end of the summer the queen lays a number of eggs which produce male wasps and these mate with the new queens.

As the weather becomes colder the nest will die out, except for the new queens, which fly away to find hibernation sites over winter. The old nests are not re-colonised the following year.

Control

Adult wasps become a problem when they forage for sugary foods such as jam, fruit, etc in the late summer. The wasps that appear indoors can be treated by using a quick knockdown insecticidal aerosol spray.

If the nest is in the ground an insecticidal dust can be applied around the entrance of the nest. Care must always be taken read the instructions on the pesticide container before you buy it and if you feel professional help is required our Pest control Officers will be pleased to treat your wasp nest. A charge will be made for this treatment. The old nests are not re-colonised the following year so the treated nests need not be removed.