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Queen wasps emerge and start working on new nests in the Spring, as the weather gets warmer. By the Summer months, wasp nests are working overtime, with up to 300 eggs being produced every day and up to 5,000 adults feeding grubs and building the nest structure.

In the UK you’re most likely to come across (Vespula vulgaris) and German Wasps (Vespula germanica). Both species are yellow and black striped, and have painful stings that can cause allergic reactions.

One of Britain’s most feared and potentially aggressive pests, wasps are known for their nasty stings and seemingly unprovoked attacks.

In reality, wasps will usually only attack a person if they feel threatened. The problem is a social wasp in distress emits a pheromone that sends nearby colony members into a defensive, stinging frenzy.

That’s right - scare a wasp and it might call for backup.

Wasp stings are at best painful, and at worst fatal.

If you’re sensitive to wasp stings then they can send you into anaphylaxis - a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.

Children, elderly people, those with allergies, and household pets are particularly sensitive to wasp stings.

If you’re worried about a large amount of wasp activity around your home and family, you should call The Exterminator

If after a sting you have difficulties breathing, dizziness or a swollen face - you need to seek immediate medical treatment.   

If you’ve not had a severe allergic reaction, your sting will still be very painful.

To treat a sting yourself:

• Wash around the sting with soap and water
• Apply a cold compress, like an ice pack, for at least 10 minutes
• Elevate the affected area, if possible.

Avoid scratching and don’t try any daft home remedies. Vinegar and bicarbonate of soda is probably going to make it worse.

Go to your pharmacist and ask for some creams for itching and some antihistamines.

If you own a shop or restaurant you need to take wasp pest control seriously. 

If your customers experience a high level of wasp activity then they’re likely to complain and request a refund or leave a negative review. Either could result in a loss of future income.

You have a duty to protect your customers and staff. To minimise the disruption to your business, we suggest you give The Exterminator a call to discuss your issue further.

If you’re seeing a large number of wasps in and around your home or work, there’s probably a wasps’ nest or a substantial attractant nearby. 

Wasp nests’ come in many different shapes and sizes. They’re amazing pieces of architecture that can contain up to 5,000 wasps during peak activity in late Summer.

They build their nest using chewed wood and saliva to make a papier mache material. The nest material is durable, lightweight and surprisingly waterproof.

Hundreds of wasps produce this papery material to build out their nest. Every wasps’ nest is both unique and shares characteristics with other colonies of the same species.

Wasps are likely to make their nests in sheltered spots. You’re likely to find wasps’ nests:

• Under trees
• In bushes
• In wall cavies
• Under eaves
• In your shed or garage.

It’s really easy for you to mistake bees for wasps.

The way we treat bees and wasps are very different.

Bee’s are an important, beneficial species rarely considered a pest. Professional pest controllers only treat bees nests if it’s a significant threat to public health as last resort.

Bees are hymenoptera, specialising in flowers, eating nectar for energy and pollen for protein.

Bees of all types are essential to our ecosystems, being the highest number of pollinating insect.

An estimated third of all crops are pollination-dependent, including those used in livestock feed, covering 70 different types of crop.

If you’re unsure about whether you’re looking at bees or wasps, contact The Exterminator and they’ll be able to help.

If possible and safe, take a photo to help with the identification.

The Exterminator is committed to the protection of bees.