Where have all the wasps gone
- Thread starter johnnyb47
- Start date
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Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
lazybloke
Priest of the cult of Chris Rea
- Location
- Leafy Surrey
Have had wasps nesting in my roof this summer, but have barely seen any in the garden.
Ditto biting insects; havent had to apply deet or light the citronella candles for any of our bbqs this year.
The wasps have been declining noticeably for at least a decade, but this seems the worst by far.
The local butterfly count is the lowest ever.
And driving to/from Cornwall this summer, the car was entirely free of bug splatter. 30 years ago, we'd have to stop halfway to wash/scrape/clean the windscreen!
All of the above are important for pollination and have their place in the food chain. The numbers have been declining for years but 2024 feels like a crash- v worrying, especially if happening across the nations.
(Ps but loads of Red Kites)
Ditto biting insects; havent had to apply deet or light the citronella candles for any of our bbqs this year.
The wasps have been declining noticeably for at least a decade, but this seems the worst by far.
The local butterfly count is the lowest ever.
And driving to/from Cornwall this summer, the car was entirely free of bug splatter. 30 years ago, we'd have to stop halfway to wash/scrape/clean the windscreen!
All of the above are important for pollination and have their place in the food chain. The numbers have been declining for years but 2024 feels like a crash- v worrying, especially if happening across the nations.
(Ps but loads of Red Kites)
lazybloke
Priest of the cult of Chris Rea
- Location
- Leafy Surrey
The local dragonfly survey is also showing a drop this year.
Here's a ... Erm... (Racks brain) Probably an emerald damselfly; on the river near Rye last week
Weird, the green looks really dingy after pasting the pic here
Here's a ... Erm... (Racks brain) Probably an emerald damselfly; on the river near Rye last week
Weird, the green looks really dingy after pasting the pic here
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
I saw more dragonflies just last week in Devon than the total number of wasps that I have seen in 2024!
Admittedly, I have not seen many dragonflies up here in Yorkshire and Lancashire.
All uphill
Still rolling along
- Location
- Somerset
I'm glad you said that; it seems to have been a very good year for dragonflies and damselflies here in Somerset, too.
Wasps may have gone (but not here in the SE) but what about the plague of flies?
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
Plenty of Red Kites and pheasants on today‘s outing
PaulSB
Squire
- Location
- Chorley, Lancashire
Yep, definitely. On my allotment we have red ants all over the place. Vicious little buggers.
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
Lots of dragon flies at our local lakes this year
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
Traffic is four times that of 30 years ago. I wonder if the shear increase in driving is causing more insects to get wiped out through splatter.
Supersuperleeds
Legendary Member
- Location
- Leicester
Next to bugger all in Leicester on the wasp front this year. Which is good news for me as I react quite badly to them.
Got stung by one in the face on the way into work a couple of years ago, got into the office and looked in a mirror, I looked like Joseph Merrick, and anyone that knows me, no comments about I didn't need to get stung for that effect.
I leave any insect in the garden alone and let nature sort them out, except wasps, if I see any sign of a nest the evil buggers get suffocated in wasp powder.
Got stung by one in the face on the way into work a couple of years ago, got into the office and looked in a mirror, I looked like Joseph Merrick, and anyone that knows me, no comments about I didn't need to get stung for that effect.
I leave any insect in the garden alone and let nature sort them out, except wasps, if I see any sign of a nest the evil buggers get suffocated in wasp powder.
The neighbours have got a nest and we have thousands flying past at quite high level. They’ve been very active the last few weeks despite the weather. Seem to be heading into the woods not lingering in the garden. But I agree I’ve not been bothered by one while eating scones this year.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
I was an avid wear of shorts from March through to December, but no more.
You expect the odd insect bite over the years, but this year I've been eaten alive, including one so bad I ended up in A&E with my leg swollen from ground to ankle. The nasty creepy crawlies seem to be thriving.
