Take action to prevent wasps having an autumn sugar rush

Wasp figures could be set to rise after the mixed summer weather. Photo: Martin Cooper via Creative Commons

The cooler climate has seen the pests focus on rearing their young, predominantly feeding on wood-based material to build their nests.

But experts say they could now start to emerge as their focus switches to sweeter items – the time in their lifecycle when they are most disruptive to humans.

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Kevin Higgins, of the British Pest Control Association (BPCA), said: “At the moment wasps are not as prominent as they usually are at this time of year.

“At the beginning of the season it all seemed very active and there were a number of queen wasps around.

“However, over the summer the mix of wet and cooler weather has not been right for them, but it is likely they are out there and will now start to emerge shortly.

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“They will be targeting sweet items. This can include fruit on trees, as well as sugary drinks or confectionary items, which is why wasps can be so disruptive when we eat and drink outdoors.

“A wasp can zoom in on a particular source of food and then go back up to a mile to its nest to alert others in the colony, so they return back in numbers.

“This means they can become a real issue in no time at all.”

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According to BPCA, a range of methods to tackle the issue can be put in place, but professional input should be sought to ensure treatment plans are both safe and effective.

The BPCA website contains advice on wasps along with a search tool to find professional controllers in your area. Visit:

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Steve Ott

Steve Ott is editor of Kitchen Garden magazine and started his career as a professional grower, producing everything from cut flowers to vegetables. He has been growing fruit and veg all his life and spends most of his spare time in his garden in the East Midlands. He loves to experiment with crops and varieties he has never grown before and when he isn’t gardening is to be found out in the countryside bird watching and walking his dog Ted.