Clackmannanshire Council Online

Wasps - Pest Control

Wasps - Pest Control

Problem

Although Wasps are quite useful insects, helping to control other pests, clearing dead insect debris and cross pollinating plant life in general, they are regarded as pests and a threat to health.

Wasp stings may be unpleasant to most of us, but to some people they can prove fatal. The ability of these social insects to inflict multiple stings means for certain individuals they can kill.

Although 11 species of true wasps are found in Europe, in Scotland the 2 most often found are the Common Wasp and German Wasp.

Life Cycle

All wasps over winter as queens, usually hibernating in buildings, underground or in tree cavities. The young queen emerges in Spring, feeding on nectar and sap and begins to construct her new nest from from wasp paper, a mixture that she concocts from chewed wood, plant debris and saliva. Nests are often found in holes in the ground, hollow trees, eaves, attics, or garden sheds. A new nest is always built from scratch. Old nests are never returned to. The queen lays her first batch of eggs within a few days and the larva constructs silk cocoons in which they pupate. 4-6 weeks later, the first worker wasps appear. The workers then take over the ongoing nest construction, enveloping the whole nest in wasp paper which could by now extend to 8 tiers. They also forage for food, ventilate the nest (by vibrating their wings) and nurture and feed the developing wasp larvae. At the end of the summer the queen lays eggs which produce male wasps. By the end of the summer a nest may house over 20,000 wasps. The male wasps fertilise new queens who go on to search for hibernation sites. Nests are then deserted and these can be safely broken up or removed.

Control

Control can be achieved by the Pest Control Officer in most cases by the use of insecticide dust. The destruction of a nest is achieved by applying insecticide directly onto the nest or at the nest entrance. In this way the insecticide is carried into the core of the nest and eradication follows soon after.

Treatment

The treatment is carried out using an approved insecticide. Further information on the insecticide is available on request.

The use of insecticide is carefully controlled by the Control of Pesticide Regulations 1986. The Pest Control Officer is fully trained and all necessary measures are taken to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974 and Regulations thereunder.

Instructions will be given at the time of application in relation to safety of the householder and pets.

In some cases more than one application is necessary to ensure control.