To think that wasps should no longer be around?

[savagebaggagemaster]

I've just had the unpleasant experience of discovering a very large wasp flying inside the car whilst driving along a 60mph road. DD pointed it out and we had to pull over to release it into the wind and rain. It's the third (giant!) wasp I've seen in recent days and we live in Scotland! Has anyone else noticed that the wasps seem to be hanging about longer this year? The clocks are going back tonight, what's going on?

I don't about this year but had to call out to a supposed wasp infestation at half term a few years ago

It does seem to be unseasonably warm for this time of year.

They are good pollinators.

I had two in the house this week, I was quite surprised too, but it's not been freezing cold yet so maybe it shouldn't be that unusual?

My ds said a girl in his class was stung by a wasp at school a few days ago.

I am supporting Exeter in the final but I think you are being harsh on Wasps

I saw some sleepy ones this week, at work. It does seem a bit late but then I don't think we have had a frost yet, here.

Probably a queen looking for somewhere to overwinter. Scary when you are driving!

We had one in our kitchen in December a couple of years ago. It was a bit of a shock. Perhaps the milder weather?

it’s the giant September spiders I’m worried about. I can still sense them in my house

I'm in the SE, I had a huge one in the house the other night. I was considering getting my riding boots on!!

I had a huuge wasp in my house today ...we are on south coast.

We discovered a nest 4 weeks ago. Near our bathroom but actually on neighbours side. He refused to do anything about it as they should be dying off now. So far we’ve had at least 15 in the bathroom in these 4 weeks and dd was stung (requiring hospital attention) They do seem to be hanging around longer than we anticipated, even though they are all very dozy.

Huge ones are queens looking for a place for winter.
They will soon be gone until next year.

I had a giant hornet appear in my house last week. She was huge. Terrified me and the kids

I had one fly at my face whilst was watching dc's football match this morning. It was blowing a Gale and pouring with rain too...I almost felt sorry for it!

My little girl found a dying wasp in the middle of the living room in mid March. I've no idea where it came from or how it got there.

aj1425. Do you have a fireplace in your living room. I have wasps hibernate in my chimney every year.

In spring I have to remember to open the front of the logburner so they can get out

Most wasps do die off once the weather gets colder, October - November is usual if its mild. The new queens and a few males will survive to mate and then the new queen will hibernate til spring. That's when you find dozy big wasps in your living room - likely she's been happily asleep in a dark corner of your house all winter...

We are in south wear and still have a load at the end of a garden - still not been able to locate the nest. It’s not really been cold enough yet to see them off though.

I saw one today and had exactly the same thought, although I remember having a nest in the loft a few years ago and they didn't bother us until about this time of year when they turned into moths and were attracted to the light and when my husband got up early for work and turned on the bathroom light they came through the light fittings - right up until early December! They were very dopey and he was able to swat them, but it was a pain.

Most wasps do die off once the weather gets colder,

This is a common thought but it isn't true. Wasps don't die because the weather gets cold. Wasps die because they run out of food.

@Mintjulia no, no fireplace or any obvious entrance! It was very strange.

October was always prime wasp season. I remember having to run the gauntlet of the wasp infested rotting pear tree every October at secondary school in the 90s.