Why are wasps so aggressive right now?

Early fall brings pleasant temperatures to the end of summer, making barbecues and al fresco dining more comfortable than peak summer. Unfortunately, you may have also noticed that it also invites wasps to the party.

If it feels like wasps are suddenly everywhere — and are way more aggressive and invasive than usual — you aren’t imagining things. Biological shifts inside the nest make late-summer and early fall wasps noticeably more defensive and persistent around humans.

Here’s why, and who to call for help.

Wasp aggression in late summer boils down to three main factors: peak colony size, shifting dietary needs and dwindling natural food supplies.

Dr. Jim Fredericks, board-certified entomologist and senior vice president of public affairs at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) says: “Late summer and early fall are when encounters with yellow jackets, wasps and hornets tend to be at their highest because colonies are at their peak size. A colony that began with one queen in the spring may contain hundreds or, sometimes, thousands of workers by the end of summer.”

While wasps tend to focus on protein-based foods during the earlier summer, such as other insects, there are additional changes at the end of…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/money/