W for wasp

Everybody has been annoyed by a wasp on a summer day, but you probably didn't know that there are hundreds of thousands of different wasps in the world.

Some wasps can grow up to 10 centimetres long - can you imagine being stung by one of those!

Fact:

Wasps and bees are related, but unlike bees, wasps do not die when they sting you as they have no barb on their sting.

Wasp nests

A wasp colony will rid your garden of thousands of caterpillars and other insect pests far more safely than pesticides - and it's free!

Wasp colonies die out in the autumn and only the queen wasp survives by hibernating in a sheltered place. The queen starts a new colony the following spring.

Important: Never attempt to destroy a nest without professional advice. In most cases nests can be left alone until they are empty, and then they can be easily removed.