Common Wasps (Vespula vulgaris) and German Wasps (Vespula germanica) are serious pests. Both of these wasp species are found commonly throughout the UK. There are many other wasp species, but these two are the most frequently encountered.
Key Facts About Wasps
Wasps (Vespula vulgaris) are social insects, forming large colonies. The queen spends winter hibernating under shelter and emerges in spring to establish a new nest. Her first offspring are workers which take over nest chores. A “paper” wasp nest is made by mixing saliva with wood fibres and grows over summer to reach the size of a football. Wasps make their nests in secluded areas for added protection, with common sites being underground or inside roof or wall cavities.
Worker wasps are 12-15mm long, about the size of a honey bee, bright yellow with black stripes running down their back and paired spots either side of these stripes. Wings are long and transparent, antennae black and legs mostly yellow. Queens, usually only seen in winter and spring, are similar but larger (20mm).
Workers feed on sweet substances such as secretions from sucking insects, fermenting fruit and people’s food and drinks. They feed their grubs in the nest with other insects and spiders which they catch and kill, or with bits of meat from carrion or pet food bowls. The nest population may be several thousand Wasps (Vespula vulgaris) by the end of summer. A colony produces and releases newly mated queens in autumn then dies out in winter.
Wasps (Vespula vulgaris) Significance of Control
Wasps will aggressively defend their nest by swarming out to attack a disturbance. When provoked or threatened they are likely to sting. A sting is painful and multiple stings or a sting in the throat can be dangerous and potentially, but rarely fatal.
Wasps (Vespula vulgaris) can also potentially transmit disease by contact from feeding and landing on rotting food materials prior to feeding on our food or by way of a sting.
They are also an environmental pest as high numbers of wasps can rid an area of other insects and spiders. They may thus have some beneficial value as a predator of pest insects, but this is typically outweighed by the problems they can cause for humans.
- It is strongly recommended that destruction of a wasp nest is only carried out by a trained pest control professional.
Call Pest Solutions to Get Rid of That Pest Today!
Extensive United Kingdom coverage from our many local regional branches grants Pest Solutions the capability to respond swiftly to assist you to take care of your Pest Infestations today. Wasps (Vespula vulgaris) can be a particularly bothersome pest, but our technicians are always on hand to help you deal with them. Give us a call now to have an experienced member of our properly trained service team come and assist you in coping with that pest control issue.
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