Common wasps, have something happened to them this year

[tracker]

Common wasp, has something happened to them this year.
I have not seen a single wasp this year so far, none in the back garden or when out walking.

[JRsbugs]

I was wondering the same thing, although I have seen a couple. One of my neighbours unfortunately had a nest hot waxed last year so that may not have helped! I heard the words "if they were some use" sort of attitude.

Janet

[JoulesH]

I think they've all come to our farm. We had a nest in the lawn discovered about 3 weeks ago - surprised as it seemed a bit early. I usually have a very tolerant attitude to wildlife but I'm afraid as we were hosting lunch for 15 paying guests on the lawn the next day we zapped the nest. Then a week later my other half was sitting on the throne in the bathroom and he suddenly had 5 wasps flying round him.... On closer inspection they had made a small hole in the plaster above the bath and were obviously nesting under the flat roof in the roof space. As I don't fancy wasps being attracted to my shampoo whilst in the shower, they got zapped too.

Both sites have had to be re-zapped at least once ( 3 times for the outside one!) is this young ones hatching off?

Just out of interest, why did God create wasps? Do they play some vital but obscure role in the scheme of things? Does anything predate them?

[eucera]

I suspect that the social wasp season is not fully underway yet - that normally kicks in once the politicians desert Westminster for their well earned summer recess. There seem to be quite a few around my house, and I have records of a number of species.

Without getting embroiled in a discussion about "creationism" (not the purpose of this site), it is worth pointing out that wasps fulfil a role in nature just as important as pretty well anything else. A humano-centric view of the natural world, in which all living things need to have some sort of purpose for humankind is unhelpful. Wasps are predators of many insects, and in turn, provide food for things like Badgers and various bird species.

[tracker]

I totally agree all natures’ things have a job to do one way or the other; I don’t kill anything if I can help it.

[James M]

I've only seen one wasp of the social kind so far this year. Mind you, I think when they start coming into houses around end of August/September time, then we'll see if it's been a very bad year or not.

[tracker]

I suppose it is a bit early, but don't they start in April right through to October.

[Dutchess]

Once the school holidays start, that's when they come out in force to terrorise families at the beach, or when they are having picnics, a day out at the zoo, etc, etc! lol!

They start getting rather dreamy towards the end of August, and thats when they're at their most annoying.

Seriously though, the wasp is a very useful insect, not just an irritating stinging machine sent to plague our holidays.

D.

[eucera]

Originally Posted by tracker

I suppose it is a bit early, but don't they start in April right through to October.

Indeed they do... but large nests have small beginnings.

[tcvarlh]

Originally Posted by eucera

...A humano-centric view of the natural world, in which all living things need to have some sort of purpose for humankind is unhelpful. ...

Not only unhelpful, downright idiotic to my way of thinking, In reality Humans could be classed as the largest and most deadly PEST or VERMIN on this planet. The 1-2% of people who actively aid the world are fighting a losing battle against the Homo Sapient Plague (a misnomer if there ever was one)

Hurrah fotr the WAPS. Long may they make our picnics interesting!
H