Councils called in as wasp number doubles

The number of wasps in parts of the Black Country and Staffordshire has more than doubled in the past two years.

Pest control firms and councils have reported an increase in the number of people reporting swarms of wasps and nests at their homes.

Dudley Council said the number of calls about wasp nests had climbed from 510 in 2009 to 1,120 this year, while in Walsall there have been 514 calls this year, up from 255 in 2008/09.

Sandwell Council has treated 1,009 wasp nests so far in 2010, up from 568 last year - although bosses said this was partly due to the council axing charges for clearing nests in residential properties.

Cannock Chase Council has invoiced 251 people for removing wasps nests already this year. There were 271 in total in 2009. And South Staffordshire Council has dealt with around 630 wasp nests so far in 2010.

Phil Davis, the authority's pest control chief, said numbers had risen sharply in recent years.

"This year has been similar to last year but a lot higher than the year before, more than double. It certainly seems to go in cycles but it does depend on cold spells in the spring," he added.

"The weather can kill off the insects that wasps feed on, which in turn reduces the number of wasps. On the other hand a warm spring means not as many wasps, or their prey, will die off."

Councils in Lichfield and Wolverhampton are no longer responsible for wasp call-outs, but local pest control firms in those areas are also reporting a significant increase.

Richard Smith of Abbey Pest Control, in Fair Lawn, Albrighton, said: "More wasps survived the hard winter than I expected. There was a late period of hibernation and we haven't had many sudden downpours.

"I think the conditions are right for them to breed effectively. They have plenty of food and good weather. It's hard to put a percentage on it, but I would say there has been an increase of between 25 and 50 per cent."

Alan Read, of Altek Midlands Environmental Services (AMES), in Foxlands Avenue, said the firm was dealing with eight to 13 nests every day. This year was the busiest of the last eight.

Colin Lowton of Forward Pest Control, in Queen Street, added: "There's been a massive increase. For two years it's been really quiet."

David Elrington, environmental health area manager at Walsall Council said: "All wasps except the queens die in the winter, so each year brand new nests are built."