Where are all the wasps?

[ashby_1963]

I work outdoors for most of the year and have suddenly realised that I have seen probably less than a dozen Common Wasps all year.
I know the weather was pretty poor but they are fairly resiliant creatures.
I wonder if the rain may have affected their usual food sources (barbeques, picnics etc.)
Anyone else noticed a wasp shortage this year or is it just a local problem?

[galanthus]

Ummmmm complete abundance of them here unfortunately Where do you live, may move there

Welcome by the way

[Jason Green]

I was in a new area this year, three-four times a week for a few weeks - rough grassland, light woodland - plenty of wildlife, 15 spp of hoverflies, bees, butterflies etc, but not a single V.vulgaris!!!

[tameblackbirds]

Hardly saw any this summer and didn't hear their chewing on my fencing. but once my ivy came into flower a few appeared non on my fennel plants that they normally love

[Phoebe]

I didn't see very many either, until I looked up at the chimney pot a few weeks ago to see dozens flying over my head they were nesting in my roof, got in on the gable wall. Apart from that not many more about.

[Susie]

During August we had simply hundreds. In front of the house there is a sallow and it produced a very sticky honeydew which dripped down and covered everything. This drew loads of insects and I am not sure if it was the other insects or the honeydew the wasps wanted but they were everywhere. There was even the odd one out there today despite the weather having turned and the leaves beginning to drop.

[Wild-Woman]

Wasps have been in very low numbers here.Last year we had a wasp nest in a roof space. No sign this year. The garden has had low numbers and my usual median wasp visits for paper making wood, from our garden fence, didn't happen at all.
From my point of view, insects on the whole, have been very low this year and particularly bad for the lepidopterans.

[Dogghound]

Ive seen a good number here this year although I wouldnt have said there has been as many as in recent years.

[Kayleigh]

we had a few in August not the usual amount but I wasn't out in the garden a lot this year due to the weather..I did see one today on some ivy..

[Monkster]

Yes I agree with you......where are they all?
Here in Cumbria I saw hardly any this year, probably half a dozen at the most. It used to be the worst thing about going to visit tourist attractions in August and suddenly finding yourself running at a million miles an hour to avoid the wasps in cafes or congregating in the waste bins .........but not this year!
Very strange
Suzanne