UK to be hit by ‘worst’ wasp invasion in years after scorching heatwaves

The UK is set for a ‘major’ wasp invasion thanks to the recent heatwaves and lack of rainfall, experts have warned this week.

It has been predicted that the ‘sugar-crazy’ insects will arrive in a late summer surge in the aftermath of this week’s looming heatwave, which will see temperatures soar to highs of 35C in various parts of the country.

These unusually warm and dry conditions are ideal for wasps’ breeding and survival rates, so their numbers are expected to be significantly higher this year.

Expert bug exterminators are now saying the increase in wasp populations is already leading 2022 to be dubbed ‘the year of the wasp’.

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Sebastien Pommereul, manager of the company Stop Wasps – Stop Pests, told BFMTV: “This year, we are doing between ten to twelve interventions a day. Last year, we were at five.”

During the later months, wasps can become sugar-crazed as their larva grow into full sized wasps, meaning they need to find a new source of energy. This is why summers barbecues – which tend to be full of prosecco, fizzy drinks and ice cream – become meeting points for fleets of wasps to fuel up.

As for their notorious sting, wasps only attack when they feel threatened, so people are urged to remain calm and not swat them away if they find themselves in close proximity.

And those who are unlucky enough to get stung needn’t worry, because there are usually only mild symptoms that tend to recede within a couple of hours.

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