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?

Yes, that’s what I thought but we’ve had a hornet in the house last week and seen a couple of wasps outside this week.

I’ve been surprised to see a couple of massive bumblebees this week (London)

Wow I had no idea that it was normal to see wasps this late in the year. I was stung on the ankle 3 weeks ago inside my shoe and it required medical attention over a week later due to a spreading rash! I don't like to kill wasps, but one suddenly appearing in the car freaked me out a bit.

@CraftyGin

They are good pollinators.

No they aren't. They are very naughty & not welcome in my house. Especially on my bed in the early hours of the morning.

This late in the year... try a fortnight before Christmas. Took me ages to find the bastard in the dark!

We had a wasp in our car last week as well.
And opened the door to let it out.

And I seen one dead on the floor at work.

I forgot to say we are in Manchester

Hardly any wasps or bumblebees this year. West Midlands.

We had a really giant, sleepy one in the house a couple of weeks ago, I was scared! I've never seen such a big one and it looked different from normal ones. I've no idea where it got in.

@Thismustbelove

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.

This is true.

Only queen wasps sometimes survive, and even then only sometimes...plus we gotta start to love wasps. Great pollinators etc.

@InFlagranteDerelicto

No they aren't. They are very naughty & not welcome in my house. Especially on my bed in the early hours of the morning. hmm

Eh?

A world without wasps would be catastrophic for ecosystems and the global economy

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/environment/defence-wasps-why-squashing-them-comes-sting-tale-a7144306.html%3famp

Lots of wasps round here still. Last year had to get the council out to kill off a nest in my bay window airbrick at the beginning of November. Had to get to fight our way through a swarm everytime we went in or out of the front door. The woman who came was surprised here were so many and that they were so active so late in the year - she had to go back to the van for the full hazmat gear and the totally nuclear chemicals.