An increase in huge wasps being spotted has been reported as temperatures have picked up, with some people worried about Asian hornets.
City folk have even stumbled upon them in their bedrooms and living rooms, with some even accidentally sitting on them.
Andrew Dellbridge, director of Old Catton-based Ace Pest Control, said: “The public are getting in a panic about ‘monster wasps’ arriving in the city.
“They are being confused with Asian ‘killer’ hornets. Some are even calling them massive monster hornets.”
Queen wasps stir from hibernation as temperatures pick up (Image: Newsquest)
The confusion has stemmed from reports last month of Asian hornets – a non-native predator that eats honeybees - being spotted in Northumberland, Dorset and Kent, with worries they could arrive in Norfolk.
And while it is true that these “monsters” being found in people's homes are two to three times the size of bees, they are in fact not hornets at all – they are just wasps.
Andrew Dellbridge, director of Old Catton-based Ace Pest Control (Image: Ace Pest Control)
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Andrew continued: “What we are seeing is a seasonal explosion of queen wasps.
“What we have found is fertilised queen wasps coming out of hibernation.
“They are sluggish which makes them seem strange and they are getting trapped in people's homes.”
Many people panic when they see a wasp out of fear of being stung (Image: Newsquest)
The wasps are usually just searching for a suitable place to start a nest but there are subtle differences between queen wasps and hornets such as colouration and shape.
Andrew said: “If you find one, it is best to take a photo and send it to a professional to be on the safe side.”
A warning has been issued after Asian hornets have been spotted in the UK (Image: Newsquest)
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While queen wasps are not as dangerous as hornets, they still pack a punch if they sting due to their sheer size, so it’s best to avoid them where possible.
Andrew added: "We did respond to a woman who had sat on one and got a nasty sting.
"But generally people just panic without knowing what it actually is that they are looking at."
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