Where are the wasps

[Denise]

I live in South Devon and have been particularly aware of a total lack of wasps this summer. I have visited several events where there has been large numbers of people eating and drinking and depositing plenty of suitably attractive rubbish in the bins, but still no wasps. Has anyone else noticed the same?

[StuartDH]

Lots of Londoners were complaining about huge numbers of wasps in early spring. I've been all over the SW, Wales, E.Mids and the north this summer and I've also noticed that there seem to be far fewer wasps than most other years.

[Wild Woolwell]

Originally Posted by Denise

I live in South Devon and have been particularly aware of a total lack of wasps this summer. I have visited several events where there has been large numbers of people eating and drinking and depositing plenty of suitably attractive rubbish in the bins, but still no wasps. Has anyone else noticed the same?

I also live in South Devon .

My neighbours garden has a small willow tree which has been attacked by Willow Aphid - the resulting honey dew which falls as a gentle rain in the slanting morning sunshine ( poetry ) means that every wasp in South Devon is in my next door neighbours garden - I exaggerate but there are lots

Steve

[John]

Visit my garden here at the edge of Coventry. We have had an active wasp nest in the eaves of the roof to our bungalow for quite a while now.

Normally not a problem but one day when I was night trapping moths I had a trap full of wasps and got quite badly stung when I tried to open up the trap.

[Boddie]

One species I have no time for at all. Spiders frighten me to death but I still would miss them. Snakes the same. Wasps however I detest - vicious, nasty pieces of work.

[BigAl]

I was reading somewhere recently (
perhaps the Daily Mail) that the shortage of wasps is a cause for some concern. Despite being a pest, wasps have many ecological benefits, and Joe Publiuc is being asked to take steps to preserve them rather than persecute them. This extends to providing a suitable habitat/plants for them in one's garden

[BigAl]

Well, here's a reference to the article I read, but I can't find any original sources foir the info. (Just search the attached for 'wasp' to find the info.)

http://www.maggotdrowning.com/forum/...=28658&#231504

[dawnie123]

I too have noticed a distinct lack of wasps this summer. Whilst it has made dining alfresco much more pleasurable, it does not somehow feel quite right!
I have heard that the shortage of wasps has contributed to the increase in Crane flies we certainly seem to be experiencing here in London at the moment. Wasps apparently love the larvae - leatherjackets- and few wasps = more crane flies! Can anyone shed more light on the possible link?

[StuartDH]

HI Dawnie,

That certainly seems to fit with what we're finding in Cheshire. Still virtually no wasps all year and yet there has been an explosion in the number of daddy long legs.

Before this summer I'd never imagined that crane flies could be as much of a nuisance as wasps, but these things are everywhere. I'm usually woken up two or three times a night by the sound of half a dozen daddy long legs bouncing off the walls.

[John]

Hate to buck the trend but we have had a wasp nest in our roof for ages now and they are still very active, likewise we are suffering like mad with Crane Flys everywhere.