Enviroguard Pest Guides

Wasps

 

 Common Wasp

(Vespula vulgaris)

Appearance
• Workers 10 to 15mm long; Queens 20mm.
• Yellow and black head, thorax and abdomen (markings differ according to species).		  Wasp

Lifestyle
• Each nest may produce 30,000 wasps in a year.
• Nest dies during winter, including all the males and female workers. Only Queens survive to the next year.
• Nests in lofts, wall cavities, hollow trees and bushes; nests constructed from pulped wood (paper).
• Food - insects, spiders, carrion and sweet foodstuffs.
• Stings with little provocation.


Overview
Wasps help to control a range of insect pests, and can be thus regarded as beneficial insects, especially in the garden. However, their propensity to sting readily and repeatedly makes them a nuisance and a threat to health: as well as being a painful experience, a wasp attack can be life threatening to people who are allergic to stings. Wasps are a particular nuisance at the end of the summer when the workers are freed from the need to collect food for the young and can indulge their 'sweet tooth': they can be especially problematic in kitchens, bakeries and other premises handling sweet materials. Wasps are not to be confused with the much larger Hornet (Vespa crabro), which are more often found in woodland, are more docile (stinging only when threatened or provoked), and are protected by law.

Read more at the British Pest Control Association.

 

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