Watch Out For Wasps!

The wasp. The ruiner of picnics, the uninvited house guest, buzzing around your ice cream on a hot sunny day, threatening to sting repeatedly at any moment.

Lets face it the wasp is an unpopular garden visitor. Yes it may consume nuisance insects and flies but the positives for most end there. At Sankeys we are experts at removing wasps and removing the problem from your home. 

Stripy Menace Strikes Again

The most common wasp in the UK is the Vespula vulgaris. It is believed that the wasps have been around for over 200 million years. Identified by their distinctive yellow and black striped thorax the female wasp is also equipped with the stinger at the end of her abdomen.

A colony of wasps is made up of a queen and her worker females . A sexually mature queen will be the only wasp to hibernate trough the winter and survive
Drones (male wasps ) will die shortly after mating and once the young fertilised queens emerge from hibernation in the spring, the nest building process begins again. The young queens will lay many eggs and continue to feed them once they become larvae and become workers. The workers primary role is to hunt for food and defend the queen and nest.

Recognising a wasp nest

Firstly look for activity. Sometimes the wasp nest itself is not visible however the wasp activity is. In mid summer wasp activity will peak, wasps usually enter through a small hole and the nest will be behind this. Lofts and shed are popular choices for wasps but they will nest on the ground, compost heaps under play houses and garden walls can all be used a nesting sites.Wasp nests are created using chewed wood and saliva to make a water proof papery light weight material.
Do not attempt to remove a wasp nest yourself always seek professional advice to avoid being injured.

Help! I have been stung!

The pain associated with a wasp sting usually eases within 24 hours but for some this can be more serious and lead to anaphylactic shock. If you experience difficulty breathing and dizziness these symptoms shouldn’t be ignored as these are signs off severe allergic reaction so seek medical advice. Antihistamines usually work effectively in reducing and relieving allergic reactions.

If you are still experiencing wasp control problems then call a pest control professional immediately to remedy the problem today on: 0800 158 3885.