DF, Evesham
Unlike honeybee colonies, wasp colonies last just one year. Only the queens survive the winter, to repeat the cycle the following spring. Early summer is a busy time for wasps, devoted to building a nest from wood scraped from trees and supplying food to the colony in the form of insects.
August may be high summer for us, but for wasps the year is already in decline; it is when they switch from food high in protein, necessary for rearing their young, to sugary foods. The alcohol in overripe fruit makes wasps aggressive — they are the lager louts of the insect world.
Most wasp stings occur in August and September. They are usually just painful, but in some people can induce anaphylactic shock, the symptoms of which include swelling and vomiting. If there are any signs of a reaction to a sting, the victim should seek immediate medical assistance.
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With nests, my advice is unequivocal: call an expert. Wasps guard the entrance to nests, and if a nest is threatened, they will attack. Unless the nest is hard to access, the price of removal should not be excessive, usually £50-£100. Pest controllers can be found in the Yellow Pages and your local council may provide a service. For a postcode-based directory, contact the British Pest Control Association (0870 609 2687, www.bpca.org.uk).
Richard Strand is a chartered biologist with 30 years’ experience in pest control