- The British Pest Control Association has issued a warning that wasps across parts of England are becoming aggressive after feasting on fermenting, rotting fruit at the end of summer.
- Worker wasps become inactive once their queens are fully supplied with nectar, leading them to consume alcoholic fermented fruit and making them much more likely to sting.
- Authorities warn that wasp stings are a significant health risk because they can trigger anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially fatal allergic reaction.
- Natalie Bungay of the BPCA recommends leaving wasp nests alone where possible due to their ecological role as pollinators, but urges people to contact qualified pest controllers if nests are built in high-use areas.
- To safely treat stings, the British Red Cross advises using the edge of a credit card or a fingernail to scrape the sting away rather than tweezers, which can squeeze poison sacs into the skin.
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