Dealing with Summer Pests

KEEP A LOOK OUT FOR SIGNS OF WASP NESTS:

East Riding of Yorkshire Council is warning that early signs show it is likely to be a busy time for treating wasp nests in the next couple of months.

It is not unusual for the council to receive 1,000 reports of wasp nests in a single year, most often in house airbricks, fascias, bird nest boxes and lofts.

Wasps start nesting in April but it is usually early June before people start noticing a large amount of activity around the nest site. So now is the time to be watchful.

Paul Abbott, the council’s group manager for public protection service, said: “Anyone trying to treat the nest themselves should know that angry wasps will attack in great numbers and someone stung many times could go into anaphylactic shock. “We always advise people not to try and deal with nests themselves unless they are confident that they can do it correctly.”

Signs of wasp nests close by include wood stripped from fence panels and shed walls. The early attack looks like small dots but once the wasps get going they can strip an area of several inches long, going with the wood grain. The wood is mixed with saliva by the queen wasp to build a new nest every year.

The wasps will forage around outside the nest site collecting high protein food to feed their larvae. The larvae quickly grow into wasps and the nest increases in size.

Those needing a wasp nest treatment should call the council’s pest control team on (01482) 396301. There is a charge for the service and for full details go to the ERYC pest control website.

WATCH OUT FOR WEEVER FISH and JELLY FISH:

If you’re planning to make the most of the summer sunshine, by visiting the coast make sure you are aware of what to do if you or a member of your family get stung by a Weever Fish. There have been a number of reports of incidents in Hornsea.

The 6-inch-long Weever fish are found all around the coast of the United Kingdom in areas with warm shallow water and a sandy beach including here in East Yorkshire. The fish buries itself in the sand leaving only its head and black dorsal fin visible. The sting feels like a sharp stab and is very painful but will not leave any permanent damage. The best treatment is to place the affected foot in a bowl of hot water until the pain subsides in about a couple of hours.

Jellyfish can also be a potential hazard as they are occasionally found along the coast. If one stings you do not rub the affected area, as this will cause more pain. Spray the area with cold seawater and apply ice (if available).

More safety advice here.