Wasps stings are a very common painful problem- which for some can be life threatening. Wasps can sting for many reasons, but the main reason is when their nests are disturbed. If you have noticed an increase in wasp activity around your property or spotted a nest it is time to call in one of our experts at Defender Pest Control. We can provide you with a rapid, guaranteed, one stop solution to any wasp problem you may be experiencing!
It is very important that we control wasps, but only if they pose a risk to human health and safety and only if they are definitely wasps. Bees are protected in the UK but can easily be mistaken for wasps- If we attend your property and establish it is a bees nest we can only remove this if it is a last resort and causing serious problems.
Wasp Biology
Wasps can often be mistaken for other stinging insects such as bees and hornets- understanding the biology of a wasp can help you to establish whether you have an infestation on your hands!
All stinging insects are classified under the order Hymenoptera, and they are an incredibly evolved group of insects. There are over 7000 different species of wasp in the UK, but the main ones we come across are Common Wasps (Vespula vulgaris) and German Wasps (Vespula germanica). Both the Common and German wasp are similar in appearance, they are between 12-17mm and, they both have a yellow and black body- the only way to tell them apart is the varying patterns in their markings!
Wasps are very sociable creatures and their main purpose in life is to mate. The Queen Wasp is the matriarch of the colony, she is bigger than the average wasp coming in at around 20mm and having a much longer life span living for up to 12 months. The Queen Wasp will hibernate during winter and begin making a nest in spring, once the nest is underway the Queen Wasp begins producing eggs- between 200 and 300 a day to be precise! Once hatched the larvae (grubs) are fed on insects by the Queen, and they will develop into worker wasps in 3-4 weeks. When the colder weather draws in and the fruit they feed on begins to perish worker wasps will quickly begin to die off, there life span averages between 12-22 days. Likewise, as the wasp season ends any unmated wasps (male or female) will die due to loneliness and not fulfilling their purpose.
Interesting Fact
Only female wasps are able to sting repeatedly.
Prevention
Here is a list of a few things you can do to prevent a wasp infestation in your home or business:
- Keeping windows and doors shut.
- Checking for nests early on in the year.
- Effectively proofing your home to insure there is no entry point for wasps.
- Keeping bins closed- wasps will be attracted to any food sources.
