Wasps & Warm Winters

In Pests, Pests in Winter, Wasps

Will the extremely warm Winter of 2015/2016 affect the 2016 wasp nest season? Do wasps & warm winters

It is often assumed (wrongly in my opinion) that very cold weather will kill hibernating Queen Wasps. The reason I don’t believe this is that the same species of wasps we have in the South of England are also in Scotland, Scandinavia and Northern Europe. That said cold weather in late or early spring may have an effect. The worst time for Wasps in regard to very cold weather is in the Spring. If the weather is mild enough, it could lead to early emergence from hibernation by the Queens, and they will lay eggs. If there is then a heavy frost, it will kill the eggs and any grubs that may have hatched (these are not designed to hibernate as the Queen Wasps are). If the cold weather starts early in the Winter then this may prevent the Queen wasps from feeding and building up reserves to survive the Winter in hibernation. The worst enemy regarding the weather is severe fluctuations in temperature.

Queen wasps can be a nuisance in domestic situations as they emerge from hibernation, either at the correct time (March/April) or any time before this when they can be affected by artificial light and/or heat generated by a house.
PEST UK can treat Queen wasps by applying a residual insecticide to the areas where they are coming from. Typically this may be in the loft or other dark cavities that suit queen wasps to hibernate.

If you want a wasp pest control treatment for Queen Wasps or free advice then please call us at PEST UK: 0330 100 2811 (local rate) or 0800 026 0308 (free from land lines & some mobiles).

PEST UK cover a wide area of England including Berkshire, Middlesex, Surrey, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire & West London.
BPCA – Wasps