tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294155481861267737.post6685054571369646750..comments2019-11-13T12:45:42.440+00:00Comments on BugBlog: Candy-stripe spiderAfrica Gomezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03501193251810926737noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294155481861267737.post-81463206680743749962012-08-19T03:21:59.440+01:002012-08-19T03:21:59.440+01:00Are there many worker wasps around in your part of...Are there many worker wasps around in your part of the UK this year? Here in Northamptonshire, as of 18th Aug, I have not seen a single worker wasp anywhere at all this year. I&#39;m not exaggerating - I don&#39;t simply mean there are far fewer of them than usual; there are absolutely no wasps at all to be found. (Friends and work colleagues all concur, when I mention it).<br />Back in late March, during the brief warm spell, I saw several queens buzzing about, and again in late May, I saw perhaps a few more queens than usual. Just once in mid July, a wasp came in through the window at work, and again, I think it was a queen, as its movement was slow and lethargic, not curious and foraging (and judging by its size). Since then, not a peep from the wasp species. I keep thinking &quot;they&#39;re just a bit late this year, next week they&#39;ll emerge in force&quot;, but surely by 18th Aug any viable nests should be up and running. <br />I&#39;m guessing that the spectacularly wet April/May/June has decimated their food supply, as others have commented upon the scarcity of butterflies this year, so I&#39;m thinking &#39;no caterpillars = no food for the wasp grubs&#39;. <br />But still, this is unprecedented, I have never known an August completely free of wasps. I wonder, how often does this occur, is it nationwide or is the story very different in other counties, and how long will it take for their numbers to recover?<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com