On Fri, 8 Aug 2003 14:12:06 +0100, Malcolm
wrote:


In article , Chris Kaley
writes
Another year, it seems (at least around here), when very few are evident.

Anyone else noticed?

Where I live, wasps are pretty rare anyway, but I don't think I've seen
one for weeks and very, very few queens earlier in the spring. It is
possible that it is associated with cold spells during last winter
killing off the hibernating queens. And/or perhaps a poor season last
year and so fewer queens than usual to hibernate.

Generally at this time of year the workers are concentrating on
feeding the larvae with dead insects etc so they are not too bothered
by sweet things - the larvae provide them with a sugary exudate.

As soon as the larvae have pupated the workers have time on their
hands and this is when they become a nuisance, going after human sweat
and sugary things left in the kitchen - this is usually late
August/Early September, coinciding with the Daddy-Long-Legs (Cranefly)
nuisance period.

JPG