Wasps

Information about wasps

Common and almost universally disliked the wasp is probably one the more familiar insects in the UK.   Their long thin bodies are coloured with characteristic black and yellow bands and they are from 10-20mm in length.   Their main significance is probably simply that they sting when aroused or frightened.   They are also responsible for damaging ripened fruit and they can certainly be a nuisance but they are not associated with the spread of disease. 

Life Cycle 

Each autumn virtually all wasps die.   Only the season’s new queens will survive flying away to spend the winter in hibernation.   She will emerge from hibernation in late spring to selet a suitable site for a nest.   Often these are underground but we also see them in hollow trees and cavities in buildings. A common nesting site is beneath the eaves or in the loft space of your home.   The queen builds a nest from wood pulp and proceeds to lay her eggs.   During the summer the eggs hatch into larvae which in turn pupate and eventually emerge as sterile “workers” or new queens.   Toward the end of the summer the queen’s eggs will produce male wasps.   These in turn mate with the new queens and as the weather once again becomes colder, the new queens leave for hibernation and the rest die.   The nest will not be re-used. 

Treatment

If you have a wasps nest that you would like treated we would be happy to assist.   We will always offer free of charge advice and in some cases, self treatment can be done with care.   If we are able to treat a nest for you there will be a charge for this service. 

Contact 

You can contact us on 020 8753 1081 or e-mail environmental.protection@lbhf.gov.uk 

Bees 

Not to be confused with wasps bees tend to be rounder in the body than wasps.   There are various species of bees but they generally do not become a nuisance and are not regarded as a pest.   Local beekeepers may even be interested in collecting swarms of honeybees for their hives.