Advanced Pest Control Services
(Part of the Sussex Technical Products Group)
Wasps
Pest Control Advice
Wasps are one of the most disliked groups of insects but fear
is misplaced as wasps rarely sting unless they are aroused or frightened.
They are beneficial in Spring and early Summer when they feed their grubs
mainly on insects. From midsummer onwards the worker wasps feed on ripening
fruits. In late Autumn flies and other protein foods are collected for feeding
the last brood.
Description
Wasps have a narrow waist in the middle of the body. The needle-like
sting possessed only by females is concealed near the tip of the abdomen.
Workers or queens are produced according to the diet of the grubs. Workers
are smaller than queens and never lay fertilized eggs. Male wasps which are
also smaller than queens develop from unfertilized eggs laid by queens or
workers. There are two main species of wasps in Great Britain. The common
wasp and the German wasp both of which nest underground and cavities in trees,
walls and roof voids.
Life Cycle
In Spring the queens leave their hibernating places and seek nesting sites.
Having selected a site, the queen starts to build her nest with a papery material
that she
makes by chewing small pieces of wood mixed with saliva. The nest contains
cells in which eggs are placed, when the grubs hatch the queen feeds them
until they are
ready to hatch as wasps. By July there are enough adult workers to take over
duties of building the nest and feeding the grubs. Nest building continues
until the colony may consist of many thousands of workers. During mid and
late Summer, males and young queens are produced, the fertilized young queens
fly off to hibernate in dry protected places such as roof voids. Males and
workers continue to be active until late Autumn when the nest eventually becomes
unused and is rarely used the next year.
Wasp Stings
The pain of a wasp sting is caused by a toxic fluid which is injected through
the needle like sting as it penetrates the victims skin. Individuals
react differently, some hardly affected, others suffer considerable pain and
swelling.
Control Measures
Before the nest gets to the size of a tennis ball, it is possible for most
people to deal with it themselves using a wasp spray. Once above this size,
destruction of the nest normally requires specialist treatment. If insecticides
are used you should follow the instructions carefully.
4 Frenchgate Close , Eastbourne. East Sussex. BN22 9EX. United Kingdom.
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