QUICK PEST MANAGEMENT

"Protecting you and your environment"

Wasps and Hornets

There are 2 main species of wasps in the UK that are likely to be the ones you see when noting wasp activity the common wasp (Vespula Vulgaris) and German Wasp (Vespula Germanica). It is quite easy to tell the two species apart, however if you’re seeing wasps it's not necessary to have to determine which species it is. Both species carry the same risks and both build nests and live in large groups.

Queen wasps emerge from hibernation in the spring and start work building their nests. Initially these nests are very small, about the same diameter as a fifty pence coin. Once she has laid her first batch of eggs and these hatch into grubs and then over a short period of time they go through a period of metamorphosis and emerge as adult wasps you'd recognise. These then start to fly out and collect food for the queen so she can continue to lay eggs and increase the colony size. In only a few months the nest that started off so small can be larger than a football. To attempt to treat a wasp nest needs detailed knowledge of their behaviour along with the correct personal protective equipment.

The European Hornet (Vespa Crabo) although quite bigger than the main wasp species it is less aggressive. Although less aggressive the Hornet can bite and sting repeatedly if it feels the need to, so just like wasps treatment of hornets nests must be taken seriously and it is not advised this is carried out by amateurs.