What are the wasps we get in Ireland? There are only two species of wasps in Ireland that people mostly notice: the Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris) and the German Wasp (Vespula germanica).  They are very similar in appearance, but the German wasp is slightly bigger. Queens have similar markings as workers, but they are bigger. It is…

Wasps can be useful around the garden when eating caterpillars and flies. But they can be a nuisance too when their nest grows near your home. They can sting and their persistence can be irritating; they also represent a threat to those who are allergic to stings. If you get stung on the neck or in the…

Do you see a lot of wasps flying around but cannot identify the nest location? If you see a lot of wasps around your garden, especially around ivy or on tree leaves, the first thing you should make sure of is that they are not "Hoverflies", a very common insect in all Dublin areas (see picture).  Hover…

Starting in April, queen wasps wake up from their winter hibernation and start building their nests. Thousands of them are built around Dublin every year. After a few weeks, the small wasp nests become visible in virtually all areas around houses such as garden sheds, attics, eaves, trees, wall cavities and even under ground. Is it safe…

How do wasps build their nests? Wasp nests are made of a paper paste built with a mixture of wood fragments and saliva. The wood is collected by the wasps from neighbouring garden sheds, logs, fences, etc., and the fibre is extracted from the wasp's powerful mandibles. The resulting softwood pulp is then shaped and added to…