#UKwaspwatch

An application to log wasp sightings

20p will be donated to The Anaphylaxis Campaign whenever you log a sighting on the map throughout the 2011 wasp season.

Log Your Sighting

We want to develop a picture of wasp trends throughout the UK; where there are most wasps and how many there are. To log a sighting you can use Twitter or Facebook, or you can mark directly on the map. Use the key below to record how serious the sighting is on a scale of 1-10.

Key

Instructions

MAP: Enter your postcode above and use the slider to zoom in and click on your exact location. Then simply enter your message and the scale of the sighting.

FACEBOOK: Visit the UKWaspWatch Facebook app and log your sighting as per the MAP instructions

TWITTER: Tweet the hashtag #ukwaspwatch, your postcode and how serious the sighting is using the above key

Tips

You can use either your full postcode or just the first half of your postcode if you don't know it fully. If you use the full postcode the position of the marker will be more accurate.

Pest Control

Dealing with Wasps

Summer months are synonymous with outdoor living – eating al fresco, pub gardens, festivals and barbecues. However, the combination of food, drinks and warm weather can all lead to one thing in the UK – wasps. Despite this year’s harsh winter, we still expect wasps to be as prevalent as ever over the summer months, bringing with them the worry of wasps and their sting.

Identifying hornets and wasps

The bright yellow and black stripes of wasps and hornets are a warning pattern that has been mimicked by many insects to take advantage of the deterrent effect of appearing wasp like. As well as these distinctive markings, wasps have two pairs of wings (the hind wings being smaller than the fore wings) and tend to be less hairy than bees.

Small nest | UKwaspwatch

Dealing with a Wasps Nest

Take great care when dealing with wasps as they have a potent sting and can attack if disturbed or threatened. A wasp trapped indoors can be dealt with using a wasp and fly killer spray.

If however, you are experiencing high numbers of wasps in your home or garden it is likely that there is a wasps’ nest nearby. A single nest may contain thousands of wasps which can be annoying and even become aggressive if disturbed or provoked. By summer, a mature wasps’ nest can contain between 4,000 - 6,000 individual wasps and typically can be 30cm in diameter, although they can be much bigger depending on their location.

How to get rid of wasps’ nests

To locate a wasps’ nest, watch the flight path of the returning insects. If the wasps’ nest is near the house, keep nearby doors and windows closed. If you suspect the nest is in the loft, take great care when entering the roof space as the wasps may see this as an aggressive threat to their nest.

Do not attempt DIY wasp treatment if you suspect you are sensitive to wasp stings, if the nest is indoors or the nest is difficult to access. Never attempt to treat a wasps’ nest when on a ladder or from a raised height.

Wasp and hornet swarms are dangerous - if in any doubt seek professional, expert, help.

To find out more about Rentokil's wasp nest removal service call us on 0800 917 1984.