This year, firefighters are often called out to eliminate hornet and wasp nests, Czech media report. So far, more than six thousand such interventions have been recorded, and in the whole of 2023, there were more than 5.5 thousand of them.
As reported by the newspaper “Lidove Noviny”, the fire department most often intervenes in connection with wasp nests in kindergartens, schools, summer camps, hospitals, as well as in places where people with allergies are present.
Firefighters are called to eliminate the nest and the insects themselves. This year, they have intervened 6,093 times, up until August 13 alone. Throughout last year, firefighters were needed 5,535 times.
Interventions are not undertaken in parks, on bike paths or at swimming pools. If there is no direct threat to health or life, callers are directed to the property manager, the municipality or a professional company dealing with the fight against annoying insects. According to the newspaper, such specialist companies have 40 percent more orders this year than in previous years.
More hornets and wasps? No data available
Experts point out that there is no data available to confirm that there are more wasps and hornets now than a year ago, or that they are more aggressive. They believe that this impression is created because these insects are most active on warm, dry days, and there is no shortage of these in the summer months.
Wasps and hornets are very useful insects. They help get rid of insects that can harm plants in gardens, as well as in fields or forests. Their food also includes nectar – in this way they participate in the pollination process.
European hornet (Latin: Vespa crabro)Steidi/Shutterstock – illustrative photo
Bees, wasps, bumblebees and hornetsPAP
PAP, Lidove Noviny, Pozary.cz, uwm.edu.pl
Main image source: Steidi/Shutterstock – illustrative photo