Forum home› Wildlife gardening
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Are wasps smaller this year?

2»

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I see varying sizes of wasp - at least two types, as @wild edges  indicates. Always lots of them here, and I love seeing them drink at the shallow bits of the pond. One was rather keen on checking out my lunch recently - had to be careful when I took a bit of the sandwich... ;)
    Hoverflies are the same - loads and loads of different ones, and all sorts of colours and sizes. Some are so tiny that you can barely see them. Lovely little things. They're enjoying the fennel just now, as well as lots of other things. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    We have hoverflies and wasps enjoying our fennel at the moment to but less hoverflies than usual and far far more wasps. The previous couple of years I've barely seen any wasps apart from when they are enjoying the persicaria at the end of summer but this year we have had lots.
    I haven't noticed them being any smaller than usual but the bumblebees certainly were earlier in the year because of the cold spring.
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    Pete.8 said:
    Ceres said:
    I'm impressed that you have ripe blackberries where you are.

    The first were ready on 6 July.
    I've just picked the last few:smile:
    I grow Waldo an excellent cultivated variety
    11 Kg's in the freezer :)

    I am quite jealous. I rely on the wild variety and the best site is now a new housing estate. So sad.
  • Balgay.HillBalgay.Hill Posts: 1,089
    Fairygirl said:
    I see varying sizes of wasp - at least two types, as @wild edges  indicates. Always lots of them here, and I love seeing them drink at the shallow bits of the pond. One was rather keen on checking out my lunch recently - had to be careful when I took a bit of the sandwich... ;)
     
    I had a close call last year. I had a drink from my can of beer, and realised a wasp had got into the can when i wasn't looking. I managed to swallow it without being stung, and the strong stomach acid sorted it out.
    You can be repeatedly stung if you attempt to cough it up and spit them out.
    Sunny Dundee
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited August 2023
    Aaargh! 🐝 
    @Balgay.Hill  that was lucky!  (not for the wasp of course!)

    I’m sticking to beer in proper mugs 🍻 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'm glad I just drink tea... :D
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Balgay.Hill said:
    You can be repeatedly stung if you attempt to cough it up and spit them out.
    Unless it's a male wasp.

    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • Balgay.HillBalgay.Hill Posts: 1,089
    wild edges said:
    Balgay.Hill said:
    You can be repeatedly stung if you attempt to cough it up and spit them out.
    Unless it's a male wasp.

    Maybe that was what i swallowed. I didn't know male wasps don't sting.
    Sunny Dundee
Sign In or Register to comment.