Huge surge in wasp swarms is set to plague British homes this summer… here’s how to keep YOURS safe

THE summer heatwave has being causing havoc for homeowners battling to keep their houses cool.

But it’s not just the hot temperatures that have been blighting Brits – the warm weather means plagues of wasps have been infesting people’s homes.

Pest control experts Rentokil have seen a 137 per cent year-on-year increase in call-outs from people who have found nests on their property.

And having enjoyed a mild winter and the warm summer temperatures showing no sign of dropping, experts say the problem could get even worse.

David Cross, head of technical training at Rentokil, said: “Due to the long summer in 2016 and the relatively stable and mild winter, we anticipate fewer queen wasps will have perished and the UK could be set for an increased population this year.

“This is supported by Rentokil’s call-out figures which increased 137 per cent year-on-year from May 2016 to May 2017.

“As long as the weather remains fair and warm, we anticipate this trend will continue.”

When wasps first nest in people’s houses, they often cause no harm to humans and feed on nearby sources.

But as the summer wears on, and the queen wasp’s eggs begin to hatch, the population explodes.

And it is then the critters start to become a nuisance, especially if they ingest too much sugar from over-ripe food or frizzy drinks.

David added: “A warm, early summer usually leads to more eggs being hatched as food sources are more abundant.

“In contrast to wet and overcast weather which reduces potential foraging time.

“Generally, the more time spent in the nest by adults, the less likely larvae are to survive and as a result the overall wasp population is unlikely to increase significantly.

“Stings are also more common in summer, as worker wasps become ‘tipsy’ due to the large amounts of sugar they have ingested from feeding on over-ripe food and sugary drinks.”

However, experts say there are simple things you can do to keep the critters at bay. Here are their top five tips:

1. Always clean up food spillages right away

Wasps are always looking for food sources and are attracted to items that are high in sugar and carbohydrate. So if you have food spillages, especially sticky ones, clean them up right away. The same goes for food stains on dirty dishes – keep wasps away by doing the washing-up as soon as you can.

2. Always close your kitchen doors

As wasps are always on the hunt for food, the kitchen is the one room in your home they are most attracted to – especially when cooking. So simply closing your kitchen door whenever possible, can lower the risk of an infestation.

3. Always clean in those hard-to-reach places

As well as keeping your surfaces clean, make sure hard-to-reach places are also kept spotless. This is because wasps – and other creepy crawlies such as ants – love moist areas and cleaning them can disrupt their favourite environment, forcing them to set up a nest elsewhere.

4. Avoid brightly-coloured garden furniture

Wasps are drawn to vivid colours and strong smells so if your garden furniture is bright, you could be acting as a huge attraction to the insects. If you are worried about wasps, experts say outdoor furniture should be neutral colours and that any decorations, such as colourful bunting should be kept to a minimum.

5. Always be vigilant for signs of a nest

It is virtually impossible to proof a building against a single queen, but if a home has hosted a wasp nest in the past, it’s likely that it could do again. Looking out for signs of infestation, such as wasps entering and leaving buildings will ensure any nest is detected early in the season, and can be destroyed before numbers build and the risk of stings increases.