The Joy of Pests

Nice piece here. Check out the joy on Shane Jones' fizzog: https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/18446981.pest-controller-warns-hornet-wasp-season-started-really-early-basingstoke/

'Tis the season to be wary...

What if all the wasps disappeared?

Slightly annoying presentation style, but fun all the same.

Invasive species: UK MPs call for a million people's help

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-50173577

Wasps: If you can't love them, at least admire them

Nice article here, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-49692974  I like the phrase from Dr Gavin Broad, "Bees are just furry wasps that turned vegetarian."

Asian hornet, Vespa velutina

Another UK sighting:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/asian-hornet-uk-sightings-in-2018

Waspery in Jersey

https://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2019/08/13/ramp-built-on-beach-to-access-asian-hornet-nest/

Vespa crabro

In Greece I kept an eye out for Vespa velutina - none seen. Plenty of big, beautiful European hornets, Vespa crabro, though - they really are amazing beasties!

Pic from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AD2009Aug08_Vespa_crabro_01.jpg

Vespa velutina

I found this on https://www.vespavelutina.co.uk/vespavelutinanews/amazing-video-showing-the-distinct-aggression-of-the-vespa-velutina-attacking-honey-bees

Asian Hornet Nest Removal

Why do we hate wasps and love bees?

From the BBC story, here:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-45566304

The best Comment on the story, by far:

749. Posted bySimon Dillon

on2 hours ago

"A new study reveals that wasps are largely disliked by the public, whereas bees are highly appreciated."

In other news, the Pope is Catholic.

Wasps v hornets

A friend found and posted this photo. He wrote:

I've posted a photo below which clearly shows the differences between a wasp (little one)  European hornet (big brown thorax and lots of yellow bands)  and Asian hornet (one yellow band dark thorax (note face colours too!).

If I could credit the photographer, I would

Mary Celeste

Visited the hives on Saturday, and one (of three) was eerily quiet. Checked inside...

What seems to have happened is this:

- This hive had the shook swarm, with relatively few bees

- There are *tons* of wasps this summer

- On last inspection, I noticed (and killed) many wasps

- On last inspection, I closed up the hive entrance to help the bees defend the colony

- The wasps won the battle...

OR

- This hive had the shook swarm, with relatively few bees

- The flying bees returned to the old hive

- Leaving an enfeebled colony, which died out

On the previous inspection there were plenty of bees and a laying queen. I will take the hive to bits and inspect more closely.

Wasps

Quick look at one of the hives this evening, shortly before (as per usual) the heavens opened.

There were probably eight or ten wasps in the hive - and those were just the few I could see. The bees were chasing them around, but not out.

Not sure what to do about this.

Pic from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_jacket