The sting in tail of the Summer

You are in the garden, drink in one hand, plate of grilled food in the other, when suddenly – buzzing.
Not the soft grazes of bee’s wings but the sharpness of a wasp.
Within seconds you’ve swatted, dodged, maybe even ran indoors, burger held high like a surrender flag.

If this sort of scenario sounds familiar, you are not alone.
Late Summer in London generally brings with it a predictable increase in wasp-induced chaos.

At Pestpatrol we receive a wave of calls every August and September from angry local residents, pub owners and café managers suffering with incessant wasp harassment.

But why do wasps become so brave and dare we say, aggressive, as we get towards the end of the season?

Let us break down what is really going on behind their short fuse, and how we can minimise absences to They are fed and they have hunger.

What Makes Late Summer – Prime Wasp Season?

Urgently, we need to put ourselves into the world of the wasp colony to best understand their new behaviour.

During spring and early summer, wasps are all work and no play, just like us.
They buzz around diligently searching for protein – normally, other insects – to bring home to populate and feed their young.
While the wasp queen cramped in the nest laying eggs.
With everything’s fell into place like clockwork.

By August, everything whipped up.
The queen stops laying eggs.

The larvae stop providing sugary secretions that the workers rely on.

The workers, now essentially useless, start to fend for themselves.

Without any brood to feed and suddenly a lack of sweet food, the workers go rogue.
They start seeking sugar wherever they can find it—ripe fruit, fizzy drinks, beer taps, rubbish bags, sticky picnic tables.
Wasps don’t die when they sting unlike bees, and all of this is exacerbated by sugar withdrawal, redundancy, and self-interest.
All of this results in an erratic and far more likely to sting wasp.

Aggression or Desperation?

It is easy to see a wasp dive-bombing your pint and think it is attacking you.
But in truth, it’s not about you—it’s about surviving.

When their natural food sources decline, wasps shift their protein focus to sugar, and human activity becomes a major target.
Sticky ice cream wrappers, barbecue sauces, dropped plums, and warm cider, for example, all become very attractive to a wasp with sugar withdrawal.
If you happen to be between their target and them, it is not surprising if you are treated as a threat.

That seasonal aggression is not malicious, it is instinctive.
But for anyone who has been stung mid-pint in a pub garden, this is not much consolation.

The Problem with Nests

Not all wasps that you encounter come late summer are wandering.
There will be many wasps, still connected to an active nest, that will not hesitate to defend it if you get too close.

In early summer, wasps seem relatively tolerant of humans, unless of course you literally poke their nest. However, when you get to late summer, when the colony is unraveling, they become much more erratic. They don’t have time to waste on gathering resources – they need to act fast before autumn sets in. Therefore if they think they are at risk from you or your territory is invaded, they will sting first, ask later.

Finding a nest is never easy, especially in lofts, wall cavities, or garden sheds.
However, a rapid increase in activity near a specific area is a warning sign.
If you’re noticing a frenzy of wasps swarming around a crack in a brick wall, or an air brick, or under the roof eaves there’s a good chance of a nest being present.

Common Wasps You Will Meet in London

The following are a few species you are likely to come across in London that will become a nuisance:

• Common wasp (Vespula vulgaris): Probably the most aggressive when provoked, commonly nests in wall cavities and lofts.
• German wasp (Vespula germanica): Very similar to common wasp but with a slightly less ferocious temperament, although don’t get caught out in late summer.
• Tree wasp (Dolichovespula sylvestris): Less likely to nest in doors, and more unpredictable when disturbed.

Most people wouldn’t even be able to tell them apart if faced with one.
If it is yellow and black, flies confidently and continually hovers around your pint as if it is following it for a satnav reason, that is all you really need to know.

Tips to help you to avoid being stung this season

While it’s impossible to eliminate wasps in the summer, there are a few very simple measures you can take to make your garden, home or pub terrace less inviting for them.

Keep your food covered

Especially sugary drinks, fruit platters, or anything sticky. One wasp can smell a can of Coke from several meters!

Empty your bins

Outdoor bins are an absolute magnet for wasps, so empty the bins regularly and, if you can, use lids that are fitted tightly so there is no build-up of sweet liquid residues.

Don’t wear heavy scents

Wasps will be drawn to fragrant and fruity odours. If you’re heading off to a picnic or BBQ, avoid using heavily scented body sprays or lotions.

Be careful if you have fruit trees

Ripe or fell fruit will attract wasps like moths to a flame! Pick regularly and dispose of any lying on the ground.

Don’t swat unless it’s necessary

Swatting can set-off a defensive response if you accidentally squish them or they simply feel threatened and release a pheromone distress call. If you have one buzzing around you, do your best to stay calm and let it fly elsewhere.

Check for nests early

If you are going to check for nests, do it at the beginning of the season, when they are just starting out. Even at the end of the summer, a single nest could have several thousands of wasps in it, so act quickly if you suspect a nest!
Call Pestpatrol immediately.

What to do if you’re stung

For most people, being stung is painful but harmless.
The site may actively ache, swell, itch and/or sting for a few hours or days.

Therefore, the usual treatments include:

• Wash the area with soap and water
• Use a cold pack to reduce the swelling
• Take an antihistamine if the swelling starts to spread

If you begin to have difficulty breathing or swelling in the face or throat, or start to feel dizzy and/or
light-headed, then you should seek emergency medical assistance immediately.
This could be a signal of anaphylaxis—a serious allergic reaction which can suddenly become life-threatening.

When should you call Pestpatrol?

• • You’ve noticed an unusually high level of wasp activity around your home or garden
• • There is visible entry/exit activity in one spot, such as roof eaves, air vents, roof cracks
• • You have located a nest or suspect there is a nest in close proximity
• • Someone in your household is allergic to being stung

Wasps aren’t just annoying, they can be dangerous.
In shared environments like nurseries, cafes, care homes, and pubs you don’t want to take the risk.

Pestpatrol offers fast, discreet and professional wasp nest removal services throughout all of London.
Be it a loft nest in Clapham or garden invasion in Hackney, we have the equipment and know-how to approach it safely.

Final buzz

Late summer wasps are not the most popular neighbours.
A hungry, confused and unpredictable wasp is the stuff of nightmares but they are not invincible.
You can avoid their stings by knowing what attracts them or their nests to your property.

But if they do cross the line –
Call PestPatrol.

You are just one stress-free, sting-free visit away to enjoying summertime!

Find out more about Pestpatrol’s wasp control services or call Pestpatrol today to book an inspection.