I have been bothered by loads of wasps over the past week, found an article about them, posted below.
WATCH out for wasps this weekend, as today marks the annual peak of production of these yellow and black striped insects.
There are six different species of wasps in UK, building their nests amongst trees, branches, hedgerows and underground.
Only a fertilised queen wasp can produce offspring, but it's her sole job to do this from early spring, and with warm,
dry weather by the end of July one queen can produce up to 10,000 wasps – that's a lot of flying, stinging insects to avoid in summer!
Left alone, wasps are not normally aggressive. But on a hot summer's day, any slight irritation to a wasp near its nest can cause an hostile response – resulting in a sting. Random wasps flying around when you are out and about enjoying summer are looking for food – they are hungry not angry.
Try to remain calm while the wasp is investigating you – they will disappear once they realise you are no food source.
If eating outdoors, you could leave a piece of soft fruit at the bottom of the garden, in an area where you don't go, and this will attract the wasps and steer them away from your picnic.
The sting is the object of our fear of wasps and unlike that of the bee, the wasp can sting many times and the venom in their sting acts as an alarm and other wasps they can join in.
If you are stung by a wasp, the important thing to do is: wash with soap and water; take antihistamine; apply an ice pack to reduce swelling and if you are susceptible to insect bites generally, seek medical attention.
The thing to remember is that wasps, like all native species, have a useful raison d'etre in nature and they are extremely beneficial animals.
They feed their young on a wide range of insects such as caterpillars and bluebottles and in so doing help to control many insect pests.
They also visit flowers and therefore help in pollination of many crops, including the summer fruits we all enjoy.
If you need rid of a wasp's nest in your home or garden, call your local Public Health Department to remove.
Wasps en mass are best left to professionals. And remember, if you are happy with them, they will not attack unless they are antagonised.
Only a fertilised queen wasp can produce offspring, but it's her sole job to do this from early spring, and with warm,
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Left alone, wasps are not normally aggressive. But on a hot summer's day, any slight irritation to a wasp near its nest can cause an hostile response – resulting in a sting. Random wasps flying around when you are out and about enjoying summer are looking for food – they are hungry not angry.
Try to remain calm while the wasp is investigating you – they will disappear once they realise you are no food source.
If eating outdoors, you could leave a piece of soft fruit at the bottom of the garden, in an area where you don't go, and this will attract the wasps and steer them away from your picnic.
The sting is the object of our fear of wasps and unlike that of the bee, the wasp can sting many times and the venom in their sting acts as an alarm and other wasps they can join in.
If you are stung by a wasp, the important thing to do is: wash with soap and water; take antihistamine; apply an ice pack to reduce swelling and if you are susceptible to insect bites generally, seek medical attention.
The thing to remember is that wasps, like all native species, have a useful raison d'etre in nature and they are extremely beneficial animals.
They feed their young on a wide range of insects such as caterpillars and bluebottles and in so doing help to control many insect pests.
They also visit flowers and therefore help in pollination of many crops, including the summer fruits we all enjoy.
If you need rid of a wasp's nest in your home or garden, call your local Public Health Department to remove.
Wasps en mass are best left to professionals. And remember, if you are happy with them, they will not attack unless they are antagonised.
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