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| Wasp nests calls to pest control rise fivefold | Wasp nests calls to pest control rise fivefold |
| (4 months later) | |
| Wasp nests are keeping pest controllers five times as busy across the UK, according to experts. | Wasp nests are keeping pest controllers five times as busy across the UK, according to experts. |
| "Pest controllers usually remove two to three nests a day but at the moment our members are being called to deal with 10 to 15 a day," said Natalie Bungay, technical officer at the British Pest Control Association (BPCA). | "Pest controllers usually remove two to three nests a day but at the moment our members are being called to deal with 10 to 15 a day," said Natalie Bungay, technical officer at the British Pest Control Association (BPCA). |
| Search interest in the word "wasp" in the UK was the highest in five years between 5 and 11 August, according to Google Trends. | Search interest in the word "wasp" in the UK was the highest in five years between 5 and 11 August, according to Google Trends. |
| And the hashtag #wasps is winging its way around social media as people share their sting stories. | And the hashtag #wasps is winging its way around social media as people share their sting stories. |
| Henry Haigh, 19, from Riseholme, Lincolnshire, tweeted pictures of his dog Wilson, which was stung on the mouth. | Henry Haigh, 19, from Riseholme, Lincolnshire, tweeted pictures of his dog Wilson, which was stung on the mouth. |
| Abbiemay Pedersen, 25, from Binbrook in Lincolnshire, said she had "definitely" noticed more wasps around during this summer's heatwave. | Abbiemay Pedersen, 25, from Binbrook in Lincolnshire, said she had "definitely" noticed more wasps around during this summer's heatwave. |
| "We have chickens and I always throw out a few apples for them but on Tuesday we had an invasion of wasps. It was crazy," she said. | "We have chickens and I always throw out a few apples for them but on Tuesday we had an invasion of wasps. It was crazy," she said. |
| Telford and Wrekin Council is among authorities that have noted a rise in the amount of calls about wasps. | Telford and Wrekin Council is among authorities that have noted a rise in the amount of calls about wasps. |
| But it advised councils could not get involved in wasp removal unless the infestation was on open public land, so if you have a wasp nest in your home or garden you must call in the professionals. | But it advised councils could not get involved in wasp removal unless the infestation was on open public land, so if you have a wasp nest in your home or garden you must call in the professionals. |
| Supplies of a leading chemical used to get rid of wasp nests in Britain are running perilously low due to unprecedented demand, according to the Huffington Post. | Supplies of a leading chemical used to get rid of wasp nests in Britain are running perilously low due to unprecedented demand, according to the Huffington Post. |
| Wasp numbers traditionally rise and fall in a two-year pattern, according to the BPCA. | Wasp numbers traditionally rise and fall in a two-year pattern, according to the BPCA. |
| Its records show the UK was inundated in 2016, followed by a distinct lull in numbers in 2017. | Its records show the UK was inundated in 2016, followed by a distinct lull in numbers in 2017. |
| The summer heatwave may have added to the rise in numbers in 2018 because the warm conditions ripen fruit and flowers earlier, it said. | The summer heatwave may have added to the rise in numbers in 2018 because the warm conditions ripen fruit and flowers earlier, it said. |
| Fertilised queen wasps emerge from hibernation and start working on new nests in the spring as the weather gets warmer, said the BPCA's Ms Bungay. | Fertilised queen wasps emerge from hibernation and start working on new nests in the spring as the weather gets warmer, said the BPCA's Ms Bungay. |
| By the summer months up to 300 eggs are produced every day and up to 5,000 adult wasps work to feed grubs and build the nest structure. | By the summer months up to 300 eggs are produced every day and up to 5,000 adult wasps work to feed grubs and build the nest structure. |
| "This early abundance of fruit in the fields and gardens gives better feeding conditions in which they can thrive," said Kevin Higgins, also from the BPCA. | "This early abundance of fruit in the fields and gardens gives better feeding conditions in which they can thrive," said Kevin Higgins, also from the BPCA. |
| "Wasps get giddy on the fruit, it makes them slightly inebriated, and this is when they are most likely to sting." | "Wasps get giddy on the fruit, it makes them slightly inebriated, and this is when they are most likely to sting." |
| Wasps do not die after one sting - they can, and will, sting you quite a few times, he said. | Wasps do not die after one sting - they can, and will, sting you quite a few times, he said. |
| "If this weather continues, the wasp season will extend, and that could mean a bumper year for 2019, as conditions allow for more queens to thrive in the nests," Mr Higgins added. | "If this weather continues, the wasp season will extend, and that could mean a bumper year for 2019, as conditions allow for more queens to thrive in the nests," Mr Higgins added. |
| Things to know if you have a wasp nest | Things to know if you have a wasp nest |
| Source: BPCA | Source: BPCA |
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