Wasp Fact Sheet

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Infestation Identification:

The 2 most common wasp species are the Common Wasps and German Wasps. Most wasps species are similar in appearance with black and yellow bodies but their patterns depend on the species and are often confused with bees, however there are a many species of wasps which are black and confused with flies. Their abdomens are split into segments with black and yellow stripes on each segment. Fully grown wasps are between 12mm and 19mm long.

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Common Names:

Vespula Vulgaris (Common / Yellowjacket Wasp)

Vespula Germanica (German Wasp)

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Diet:

Wasps larvae feed on insects, aphids, caterpillars, flies and spiders. Adult wasps feed on nectar from flowers and plants and are attracted to sweet food and drink, especially in Summer months.

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Habitat:

Wasps build paper like nests usually inside where there is easy access from outside, their nests will commonly be found in roofs, wall cavities, loft spaces and window seals. If they build nests outside, they will be found in places such as; dense bushes, hollow trees and sheds.

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Prevention:

There is no way to prevent wasps completely, however it is advisable to check your property regularly for any small holes in external walls. If you discover any holes, we recommend sealing them to prevent nesting.

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Life Cycle:

Colonies only live for a year and will die once the queen leaves the nest to hibernate. The queen wasp can lay approximately 100 eggs per day, these eggs are laid in early Spring after she comes out of hibernation, the eggs then hatch into larvae after only a few days. After the larvae have been fed for approximately 2 weeks, they will then pupate and emerge as adults between 8 and 18 days.

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General Information:

A wasp nest can contain up to 20,000 wasps in the Summer, the queen lays approximately 100 eggs per day. There are more recorded deaths caused by wasp stings than there are from bee stings. Wasps usually only sting when they feel threatened and will release a pheromone which alerts other wasps of the danger, which can send them into a stinging frenzy.

 

Treatments:

We do not recommend that you approach a wasp nest because they will feel threatened and become aggressive. Nests are treated using a contact powder, which is inserted into the nest or their access point of the property. The powder will coat the wasps when they enter, when they enter the nest, they will spread this only other wasps and throughout the nest and kill the entire nest. The process usually takes up to 48 hours to fully eradicate a nest. Nests do not need to be removed because they will not cause any problems to your property, they are usually found in wall cavities and places where they are inaccessible.

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Quick Facts:

• Wasps nests can contain up to 20,000 wasps in the Summer.

• There are more recorded deaths from wasp stings that bee stings.

• Wasp nests do not need to be removed.

• Larvae are fed on mainly insects.

• Wasps cause painful stings and can sting repeatedly.

• Only female wasps have stingers.

• Threatened wasps emit pheromone which alerts other wasps of the danger, which can send them into a stinging frenzy.

• Nests are built in dry, safe and sheltered places.

• A male wasp is called a Drone

• Once the queen leaves the nest to hibernate, the nest will die.