Do you have a wasp infestation problem?
A late summer wasp nest can easily contain several thousand insects. A number of the wasps will remain
around the wasp entrance defending it. If attacked, eg by swatting or
insecticides, wasps can release a pheromone which calls others to help.
This makes treatment of an established nest by untrained, unprotected
people dangerous.
around the wasp entrance defending it. If attacked, eg by swatting or
insecticides, wasps can release a pheromone which calls others to help.
This makes treatment of an established nest by untrained, unprotected
people dangerous.
Most
professional pest control contractors use lances which can reach up to
twenty feet. An insecticidal powder is pumped into the nest entrance
which is picked up by passing insects and ingested as they clean
themselves, killing them. This will usually take 24-48 hours to kill all
the wasps. Longer if a bigger than average nest).
Wasp Biology & habits
The
common wasp is found throughout Britain and Northern Europe. It forms
colonies inside nests specially constructed in earth banks, roof spaces
and in cavities in trees and walls. They are, therefore, frequently
associated with domestic housing.
The
overwintering and fertilised queen wasp emerges around the middle of
April after hibernation and sets up a new colony. The new colony starts
as a " cell " made up of chewed timber and bark and is about the size of
a golf ball. The queen then lays eggs, which turn into adult
workers that begin to enlarge the nest and provide food for the queen as
she lays further eggs. By late summer the nest can contain up to 5,000
individuals and can be 30 cm or greater in diameter. In late summer
males and young queens emerge and mate. The fertilised queens fly away
to select suitable over wintering sites.
As
the weather gets cooler the workers and remaining males become sluggish
and with the onset of winter they are killed off. Only fertilised
queens will survive by hibernating and will emerge the following spring
to start new colonies.
Wasps
are mainly known for their nuisance value in late summer. In the
earlier part of the year they collect garden insects to feed their
larvae. Later in the season after the queens have left the workers feed
themselves on sweet substances suchs as fruit, sugars, nectar etc.
This
brings them into closer contact to humans which teamed with their
numbers makes them become a significant nuisance in homes and
factories around August, September time.
