Swarms of drunk wasps are set to bring the sting in the tail of summer after repeated heatwaves. The record-breaking temperatures has seen them feast on fermented fruit, which is alcoholic, in even greater quantities than normal.
Experts are now warning the sozzled stingers will be even angrier than usual as a result. Natalie Bungay, of the British Pest Control Association, urged members of the public to be wary of the inebriated insects and avoid disturbing their nests.
She said: “Wasps are nature’s pest controllers and can be useful in the garden, but they have been known to build their nests in all kinds of strange places from hollow trees and sheds to toilet cisterns and musical instruments.
“It’s really important that anyone who comes across a wasp nest weighs up whether the nest needs to be removed and, if it does, seeks help from a BPCA member who will have the appropriate expertise, products and equipment to remove it safely.”
The phenomenon of wasted wasps is linked to the late summer when colonies start to change their behaviour. When the queen stops producing eggs, worker wasps have less work to do within the nest and start searching for sources of sugary foods including fermenting fruit.
Heat speeds up the fermentation period for fruit. Boffins are warning people need to take swift action if they are stung as it can trigger anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal allergic reaction.
Andy McMillan, director of Guardian Pest Control in Warrington, Cheshire, said his firm faced the worst season of wasps. He said he had seen a huge increase in the number of callouts, more than any summer he can remember.
The expert said: “The dry weather has played a huge role in there being more drunk wasps swarming around the UK, it is worse than any summer in recent memory.
“When the nest changes and there aren’t any young, then wasps seek out sugary foods and that could be anything from soft drinks and fruit trees.
He said they are more aggressive than usual at this time of the summer and will sting more until the nest dies. Mr McMillan added: “Our company usually finds wasps in homes on roofs, in sheds and sneaking through air bricks. The most important thing is to be cautious as people don’t realise what severe reactions you can get from stings.”
Brits are being urged to dispose of rubbish properly, especially food with a high sugar content to avoid encountering the stinging insects.