Only 2 of 600 wasp species sting - they are all valuable beneficial insects

Of the 600 or so wasp species that occur in Central Europe, only two species sting us: the German wasp (Vespula germanica) and the common wasp (Vespula vulgaris) - and only when they feel threatened. Just like bees, wasps are important to the ecosystem. They eat other insects and pollinate flowers.

For the most harmonious coexistence of humans and wasps in summer, the environmental advice gives the following tips:

• don't lash out, keep calm
• Shake off wasps if they sit on any part of the body
• Cover drinks and check them before drinking
• Cover the food and put away leftovers as soon as possible
• Wipe children's mouth and hands immediately after eating and drinking
• Distraction feeding with ripe fruit, a little removed from the barbecue area or buffet
• Natural repellent: a bowl of lemons and cloves, this combination of scents scares off wasps
• Regularly remove windfalls in the garden
• Insect screens on the window keep the animals outside

The environmental advisory service advises against wasp traps: "Because they attract not only wasps, but also many other useful insects such as honey bees, butterflies and earwigs and drown in agony."

If you find a nest, it is best to stay away from it and wait. In winter, apart from the queen, all the people die. The nest is not colonized again.

There is more information about wasps in one PDF folder of the environmental advice for free download.

Image: © Margit Holzer, DIE UMWELTBERATUNG