Once again we are starting to see Wasps and hornets flying around, going about their business, nest making, pollinating and catching other insects. This is all fine until they want to join in with our BBQ’s, the smell of sweet relish, cooked sausages and jugs of Pims are all fair game for our yellow and black jacketed friends. To minimise any party disruption, keep an eye out for insects that keep coming and going from any potential nest sites. Likely spots are log piles, hedges, tree trunks, garden sheds, holes in the ground, up high under the guttering, in facias and soffits, under tiles and inside your loft space.

You will start to see the wasps making a continuous beeline to their entrance, popping in and out as they go about constructing their ornate nests
Reactions to stings vary…the earliest recorded death from a fatal wasp sting was King Menes of Egypt in about 3000 BC. Death from wasp stings is rapid, 66% of susceptible victims die within one hour of being stung.

Luckily for most of us, a severe reaction to the venom is unlikely. People are fairly tolerant to wasp stings and will just suffer some slight discomfort, inflammation and itchiness. There are 11 species found in the UK. A nest found at the end of the summer may have over 20,000 wasps living in it. They become problematic as peak worker numbers are reached during September and October, the wasps, drunk on fermenting fallen fruit, may become more aggressive and a greater nuisance.

To avoid any unwelcome fatalities or abandoned BBQ’s call Pest Purge for a same day extermination service, call Richard on 01622 842481.