Wasps in Cartagena and surroundings

With the first heatwaves we are having here in the Cartagena (Murcia) area, pest control companies are receiving many calls about wasp nests. In many cases, someone has already been on the receiving end of a sting, as worker wasps will not tolerate anyone nearby. They feel threatened and become aggressive.

About Wasps in Coastal Areas

The most common wasps in this eastern region are Vespula germanica, Vespula vulgaris, and Polistes.

This article is being written in July, which is the middle of summer. The nests are established and the wasp colonies are expanding. They are very beneficial for agriculture and the environment, but they become a nuisance when the worker wasps enter homes and restaurants looking for food. They can easily ruin any outdoor meal.

They try to build nests anywhere there is direct sun, whether in a hole in a tree, under a roof tile, hanging from a structure, or in a hole in the ground.

Cracks and holes in brick walls are also often their preferred spots. This reminds me of a call we got three weeks ago from Roldán. They had a wasp nest inside a brick wall. The colony had grown so large that it was becoming a nuisance and a danger to the children (people usually don't worry too much when the colony is small). Using a smoke machine, we identified the cracks where they were entering and exiting, in addition to the main entrance, as you can see in the image.

After applying insecticide, we were able to reduce part of the colony and sealed the possible entry points. The wasps died off over the following days.

Tips to Avoid Wasp Stings

Even though they are a beneficial insect as we mentioned, their sting is painful and can trigger allergic reactions in some cases. Therefore, we recommend:

• Avoid wearing bright colours and strong perfumes.
• If they are nearby, avoid sudden movements. It's better to stay calm and move slowly.
• Call a pest control company.

Conclusion

If you decide to leave the nest, it will continue to grow as the summer progresses, so it's best not to. Especially if it's nearby and there's a risk of someone getting stung.

Many people try to fight pests themselves by buying commercial insecticides. However, unlike professional biocides, these don't have a high concentration of active ingredients. This means that no matter what pest you're treating, it eventually develops a resistance to the insecticide.

Control de Plagas Levante, with quick availability, is here to help you with these annoying pests.