- This topic has 9 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated August 6, 2005 at 5:28 am by Woodelf.
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July 29, 2005 at 12:33 pm #1036650
from BBC News, relayed to both Partyvibe and Ravecore due to regional content.
Definitely worth being aware of if you suffer from allergies to insect stings/bites (like I do!)
Quote:Gardeners and parents are being warned about giant “Euro-wasps” colonising parts of Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.Their football size nests are being found in garden shrubs and bushes and each contains up to 20,000 insects.
Andy Noy, a pest controller from Leiston in Suffolk, said the huge insects started flying across the North Sea from the Continent 15 years ago.
“They’re bigger than our own variety, carry more venom and nest in the open where youngsters can disturb them.”
More of the giant wasps have been seen this year as a result of fewer queens dying during the relatively warm East Anglian winters.
They nest in shrubs and bushes so it’s much more frightening for little children who may come across them while playing in the garden and get stung
Andy NoyMr Noy said: “I’ve been in the business for 17 years and they suddenly started arriving about 15 years ago.
“At that time we were dealing with two or three nests a season, from May to September, but this year I’ve already been called out to 20 nests.”
The “super wasps” belong to a strain which grows to more than twice the size of native British species which live underground or in lofts.
Mr Noy said: “They nest in shrubs and bushes so it’s much more frightening for little children who may come across them while playing in the garden and get stung.
“The nest looks like a grey football and the nest fabric is much tougher than common wasp nests. Gardeners are getting stung big time.”
Wasps spread when a female wasps leaves the nest and finds a safe place to hibernate through the winter.
Some will die but the survivors give birth to male wasps who build and protect a new nest which will eventually contain thousands of wasps.
Mr Noy said: “Once we get into late September and October these wasps will be very angry and there will be more queens, which will hibernate and next year you could end up with 100 more nests.”
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/4727271.stmPublished: 2005/07/29 09:31:20 GMT
© BBC MMV
July 29, 2005 at 1:24 pm #1066576Yikes!
They nest in shrubs and bushes so it’s much more frightening for little children who may come across them while playing in the garden and get stung.
Just thought i’d say it again. Incase it didn’t sink in the first two times. 🙂
July 29, 2005 at 1:31 pm #1066574BioTech wrote:Yikes!They nest in shrubs and bushes so it’s much more frightening for little children who may come across them while playing in the garden and get stung.
Just thought i’d say it again. Incase it didn’t sink in the first two times. 🙂
TBH I would say the BBC completely overlooked the danger from allergies
at a young age many kids are fascinated by creepy crawlies etc – and would be enticed nearer to danger if they found the creatures rather than being frightened…. (wow, look at that big wasp!)
unless they have had other medical conditions such as asthma their families may not be aware of any allergies [my friend who became very ill from caterpillar venom had no previous medical conditions]
July 29, 2005 at 7:32 pm #1066578yikes!!.. so are these sort of hornet looking?
July 30, 2005 at 10:00 am #1066577Yeah, I can’t tell from the article if the picture is of our homegrown wasp or the new bad boys.
July 30, 2005 at 11:35 am #1066580oohh waspeys
bring it on …. woodelf fears nothing
July 31, 2005 at 3:35 am #1066572Anonymous
yea i saw 1 round my house about 3 inches long, massive
August 2, 2005 at 2:34 pm #1066579I live in London so I’m safe. We wiped out garden shrubs, bushes and other such wildlife years ago and replaced them with bricks and concrete. Anyway must dash, I have to water my paving stones before they crack in this heat.
August 6, 2005 at 1:06 am #1066573you guys crack me up.
Honestly.
Its not the end of the world is it? A few wasps?
There’s more serious matters at hand. The role of companies like Visor Consultants is one.August 6, 2005 at 5:28 am #1066575jayser wrote:you guys crack me up.
Honestly.
Its not the end of the world is it? A few wasps?
There’s more serious matters at hand. The role of companies like Visor Consultants is one.its a bit more than the normal wasps and bugs always found in England every summer – these are non-native species which are increasingly coming to the UK because of global warming – something I would consider to be a serious matter.
Anyway, these toxins in these creatures (as well as irritant caterpillars which caused many medical emergencies at a French Teknival) can cause some serious allergic reactions – worse than your normal UK bugs – and they are in areas where people like to rave, chill out or explore.
It seems like minor stuff until you or one of your friends suffers the shock reaction which requires emergency medical treatment… when you may be in a remote and unfamiliar area, surrounded by easily panicked people on a variety of drugs, and often in places where mobile phones do not recieve any signal.
This info helps people avoid the dangers, and if something bad did happen people can be made aware of the seriousness and obtain help as quickly as possible…
As for “Visor consultants” – I’ve had a quick look at the conspiracy theories surrounding these people which are on the net for all to read – but we have a politics and topical debate forum as well for stuff like this…
And why not explain what you meant a bit better … your message comes across in such a way I initially thought you were working for them and trying to spam our board to advertise their services!
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