Interesting Facts About Wasps UK

Interesting Facts About Wasps

You’ve seen them buzzing around your garden, maybe even sneaking into your home. Wasps are one of those insects that get a bad reputation. But there’s a lot more to them than just their sting. If you take a closer look, they’re actually pretty fascinating creatures. This post will take you through some of the most interesting facts about wasps you’ll find in the UK. By the end, you’ll see them a bit differently.

What Are Wasps Exactly?

Wasps are insects, part of the order Hymenoptera, which means they’re related to bees and ants. But unlike bees, they’re not just here to make honey. They come in a huge range of species, with over 9,000 known types in the UK alone. The ones you’re most likely to come across are social wasps, like the common wasp (Vespula vulgaris) and the German wasp (Vespula germanica).

These wasps live in colonies, with a queen, workers, and males. They build paper-like nests using chewed-up wood mixed with their saliva. You’ve probably seen one tucked under the eaves of a shed or hanging from a tree branch.

Why Do Wasps Sting?

Wasps don’t sting just to be mean. They do it for survival. A wasp’s sting is actually a modified egg-laying tube, called an ovipositor. For social wasps, the sting is a defence tool. They use it to protect their nest and themselves.

The sting is loaded with venom, which is what makes it hurt. If you get stung, the wasp’s venom can cause pain, redness, and swelling. For most people, it’s just a painful nuisance. But for some, who are allergic, it can be serious.

But here’s something you might not know: unlike bees, wasps can sting you more than once. Their stingers don’t get stuck in your skin, so they can keep on defending themselves.

What Do Wasps Eat?

Wasps aren’t just buzzing around looking for trouble. They’re actually pretty important in the ecosystem. Adult wasps are mainly nectar feeders. They love sweet stuff, which is why they seem so interested in your picnic.

But their larvae need protein to grow, so worker wasps hunt other insects like caterpillars, flies, and even spiders. They chew up this prey and feed it to the larvae. In return, the larvae produce a sweet liquid that the adult wasps can drink. It’s a neat little exchange.

Do Wasps Pollinate Like Bees?

You might not think of wasps as pollinators, but they are. While they’re out sipping nectar, they pick up pollen on their bodies and transfer it from one flower to another. They’re not as effective as bees because they don’t have the same fuzzy bodies, but they still help out.

Some plants even rely on wasps for pollination. Fig trees are one of the best examples. They have a special relationship with fig wasps, which are tiny wasps that live inside the figs and help the tree reproduce.

Why Do Wasps Become Aggressive in Late Summer?

If you’ve ever noticed wasps becoming a real nuisance towards the end of summer, there’s a reason. By late summer, the queen stops laying eggs. That means the worker wasps don’t have larvae to feed anymore. With no sweet liquid from the larvae, they start seeking out sugar wherever they can find it.

This is when they become more interested in your sugary drinks, fruit, or anything sweet you might have outdoors. They’re hungry and desperate, which can make them aggressive.

Where Do Wasps Go in Winter?

Wasps don’t just disappear when the weather gets cold. Most of them actually die off, including all the workers and the males. Only the new queens survive. They leave the nest and find somewhere sheltered to hibernate, like under loose bark, in sheds, or even inside your home.

In spring, these queens wake up and start building a new nest. They lay the first batch of eggs, which hatch into workers. Those workers then take over the nest-building and care for the next generation.

Are Wasps Beneficial to the Environment?

You might be surprised to learn that wasps are actually very useful. They’re natural pest controllers. Because they hunt other insects to feed their larvae, they help keep populations of pests like caterpillars and flies in check.

And as we’ve mentioned, they’re also pollinators. So, while they might be a bit of a pain at your picnic, they’re playing an important role in your garden.

How Can You Tell Different Types of Wasps Apart?

In the UK, you’re most likely to see the common wasp and the German wasp. But there are other types as well, including:

• Tree Wasps (Dolichovespula sylvestris): These wasps have a slimmer body and build their nests in trees or hedges.
• Red Wasps (Vespula rufa): They have a reddish-brown colour on their bodies.
• Hornets (Vespa crabro): Much larger than common wasps, with a yellow and brown colour rather than the bright yellow and black of smaller wasps.

There are also solitary wasps, which don’t live in colonies. They prefer to build individual nests in holes, wood, or even in the ground.

How Do You Get Rid of a Wasp Nest Safely?

If you find a wasp nest on your property, it’s best not to try and remove it yourself, especially if it’s active. Wasps will defend their nest aggressively. A professional pest control service can remove it safely.

But if the nest is empty (like in winter), you can remove it carefully. Just be sure to wear gloves and protective clothing.

How Do You Avoid Getting Stung by Wasps?

If you don’t want to get stung, there are a few simple things you can do:

• Avoid swatting at wasps. They see fast movements as a threat.
• Keep food and sugary drinks covered when you’re outdoors.
• Don’t wear strong fragrances that might attract them.
• Stay calm if one lands on you. It will likely fly away if you stay still.

Are Wasps Becoming More Common in the UK?

There’s some evidence that wasp populations are increasing. Warmer winters and milder weather mean that more queens survive hibernation. This can lead to bigger nests and more wasps in the summer.

Climate change could also be helping some non-native species of wasps to establish themselves in the UK. So, you might be seeing more of them in the future.

Final Thoughts

Wasps might seem like nothing more than a nuisance, but they’re actually fascinating creatures with a vital role in nature. They’re pollinators, pest controllers, and part of a complex ecosystem.

So, next time you see one buzzing around, maybe you won’t just think of its sting. You’ll know a bit more about these misunderstood insects, and who knows? You might even appreciate them a little.

Interesting Facts About Wasps UK