The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Wasps on rampage – and that’s when they’re sober
PLAGUE: Extreme weather conditions unleash invasion of winged pests
Homes, nurseries, primary schools and even bus shelters in Angus are being invaded by a plague of wasps unleashed by extreme weather.
In one incident, pest controllers were called to remove 10 wasp bikes from a school. A swarm of wasps was also removed from an infants’ cloakroom.
Pest control experts have warned things could get worse in late August and early September when “drunken wasps” are “more aggressive and likely to sting”.
Pest control treatment requests lodged with Angus Council by members of the public for wasp nests increased dramatically by almost 200 from 301 in 2017-18 to 496 last year.
A Courier investigation found there were 613 additional pest control callouts to council properties over the same period and wasp bikes were removed from nursery schools, primary schools, bus shelters and swimming pools.
A wasp bike was also found above a primary two classroom roof while Angus Council also received a call for help which described bees and wasps “invading the school”.
A swarm was also discovered nesting in a smoke detector above the entrance of a swimming pool.
Technical officer at British Pest Control Association Natalie Bungay described the plague of wasps as “the worst in recent years”.
She said: “Towards late August and going into September is the time when we can start to see drunken wasps, desperate for a sugar fix.
“This happens when the queen stops producing eggs and the workforce has nothing to do other than look for fermented fruits and sugars.
“Wasps quickly get inebriated and this is typically when you can expect them to be more aggressive and likely to sting.”
The warmer weather is believed to be affecting the breeding seasons of Britain’s insects.
Forfar Conservative councillor Braden Davy said it is important to let professionals deal with any sudden influx.
He said: “Most hives are already abandoned by the time they are found and wasps only become a real issue in late summer.
“But we have to take care when potential bee or wasp colonies appear near schools or in busy council spaces.”
Figures released under Freedom of Information found there were 1,062 requests from members of the public in 2016-17, 946 in 2017-18 and 1,170 last year to tackle insects, mice, rats, seagulls and wasps.
Species of wasps have since thrived as the hot, humid summer heat has continued – and experts are now suggesting more record-breaking temperatures could further boost numbers.
Wasps tend to be more prevalent in August and September in the UK because the workers no longer have many larvae to feed and so they are not foraging for insect prey.
A spokesman for Angus Council said there has already been 226 wasp treatments so far this year although things will begin to tail off as the cooler weather sets in.