Key Facts About Wasps

Common Wasps (Vespula vulgaris) and German Wasps (Vespula germanica) are serious pest. Both of these Wasp species are found commonly throughout Scotland. There are many other Wasp species, however these are the most frequently encountered.
 
Wasps 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" Wasps Nest is made by mixing saliva with wood fibres and grows over summer to reach the size of a football. A Wasps Nest is nearly always concealed, commonly underground or in a roof or wall cavity.

Worker Wasps are 12-15mm long, about the size of a Honey Bee, bright yellow with black markings including arrow-shaped marks down the middle of the abdomen with paired black spots on the sides. 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 by the end of summer. A colony produces and releases new mated queens in autumn then dies out in winter.


Significance of Controlling Wasp Activity

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 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. It is strongly recommended that destruction of a Wasps Nest is only carried out by a Trained Professional.

Also they are an environmental pest as high numbers of Wasps can rid an area of other insects and spiders. May have some beneficial value as predator of pest insects. 

Our highly trained service technicians are able to rapidly eliminate any infestation. Contact Pest Solutions at our Glasgow, Edinburgh
or Aberdeen office for a service visit, survey or advice.


Contact 0800 027 2555 today to arrange a free site survey..!

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Tags: edinburgh, glasgow, pest, pest control, wasps, wasps nest

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