These colonies will release up to several hundred newly mated queens which will spend the winter hibernating in woodpiles, under bark or amongst fallen leaves.
Autumn is our last opportunity to destroy nests before the new queens get out.
European Wasps are a health hazard and an environmental pest. At barbecues or picnics, wasps can get inside drink cans and bottles with potentially fatal consequences if you swallow one. European Wasps are an environmental pest because they catch and kill native insects and spiders to fed to their grubs in the nest. When there are high numbers of wasps, they can denude an area of small native fauna. Learn to tell it apart from the similarly aggressive native Paper Nest Wasp, and other non-aggressive mud nest builders.