As temperatures hit 40C, German wasps became drawn to Britain’s abundance of fermenting fruit, such as apples and pears, which these feared-for insects love to eat.
The high sugar content in such foods ferments into alcohol, leaving the German yellowjackets “drunk” and more likely to sting for no reason, experts warned.
Cleankill Pest Control has seen a 20 to 30 percent rise in reports for angry wasps year on year.
The firm’s Paul Bates said: “The type of wasp causing most problems is the German yellowjacket, which gives a particularly painful sting.
“Warm weather in early part of the season means that more nests survived. They feed on fallen fermenting fruits that are in abundance at this time of year.
“There has been a huge increase in wasp population this summer as they love hot and dry weather.
“They don’t like the cold and damp, so this summer — the hottest in 50 years — has been perfect for German yellowjackets.”
“There has been a huge increase in wasp population this summer as they love hot and dry weather.
“They don’t like the cold and damp, so this summer — the hottest in 50 years — has been perfect for German yellowjackets.”
The decision was taken by NRW and the Welsh government’s drought liaison group after discussing the impact of the prolonged heatwave on the environment, in particular on rivers and reservoirs.
The areas affected include north Ceredigion, Teifi, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthen, Swansea, Llanelli, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend.
A hosepipe ban was also implemented in Pembrokeshire and parts of Carmarthenshire because of the strain on public water supplies.
It comes as no surprise that this summer’s extreme weather conditions are bringing change to what insects are seen on British soil.
