Rising Temperatures Mean More Wasps

Globally, the wasp population fluctuates according to temperatures, which are rising due to climate change. According to the British Pest Control Association, problems with wasps increased in warmer regions there by 87% last year.  In the U.S., Texas, one of the states most affected by climate change, is experiencing a similar  increase.

Social wasp colonies are begun in spring by a queen that was fertilized the previous year and survived the winter by finding a warm place to hibernate.  Rising temperatures mean that warm places are becoming easier to find, which means that more queens are surviving the winter. Each emerging queen builds a small nest and raises a brood of worker females.  Female wasps possess the defensive, and often offensive, weapon known as the stinger.  The workers then expand the nest by building six-sided cells in which the queen lays more eggs.  From spring to late summer, the wasp population of a single colony begun from a single queen can expand to over 5,000 members.

Rising Wasp Numbers— From Protector to Pest

There are over 30,000 identified species of wasps and they come in every color from metallic blue to bright red. The majority of those species are harmless.  They also perform essential functions that protect the ecosystem, such as pollination and controlling other types of pests.  Only about a thousand of those species are social and form colonies that present a danger to humans, and many of those come in bright yellow, nature’s warning color telling us to proceed with caution.  The Vespidae, or the stinging wasp family, is one of those species, as are yellow jackets and hornets.

While wasps, unlike mosquitos, are not vectors for disease, their stings are not only painful, but for many who suffer from allergies, can cause anaphylactic shock.  In some cases, stings can be fatal.  The World Allergy Organization estimates that between 30 to 120 deaths are caused by bee and wasp stings every year in the U.S. alone. Unlike bees, wasps can sting repeatedly.  When in distress, they emit pheromones that summon other colony members and signal them to attack.  Nothing can cut your enjoyable outdoor family picnic short quite as fast as the sight of wasps aggressively circling the potato salad.

Maintaining Balance

Pest control experts understand and respect the importance of all species to the delicate balance of nature. The best and most effective recurring pest control services focus on performing thorough regular inspections of your property to detect the construction of nests and hives and remove them before wasps have the opportunity to colonize.  They can help keep life sustainable while making it more enjoyable.