A giant swarm of wasps took over a car in a quiet Liverpool street.
Thousands of the carnivorous insects covered the back of the vehicle yesterday, July 2, as Merseyside enjoyed another day of glorious summer weather.
People came out into the streets to see the phenomenon on Glengariff Street in Clubmoor, one resident, who did not wish to be named, estimated there were around 3,000 wasps and said he had never seen anything like it.
Speaking today, he added: "I came out at about 11am and saw a swarm over a neighbour's car.
"The whole street came out to look and some of the wasps are still there today.
"I think someone has sprayed them with wasp killer, about half of them are still there and some are just flying around."
What causes wasps to swarm like this?
The eye witness said that he wasn't stung while taking snaps of the thousands of swarming insects.
This could be because this was a 'scouting' swarm.
A non-threatening swarm like this is usually on the look-out for a new nest location.
Sciencing.com said: "This is not a threatening swarm, as they are simply moving in a group to locate the building site for their nest. If you disrupt a swarm of wasps looking for a nest, they may become aggressive.
"Many wasp species, such as paper wasps and mud daubers, can be aggressive any time they are away from a safe haven like their nest, and so you should avoid coming in contact with them."
What should you do if a swarm attacks?
Even if this was just a scouting swarm, they should be treated with extreme caution as they will sting if they feel threatened.
30-40 stings could kill a person, so if you are attacked you need to remain calm and walk away, resisting the urge to wave your arms around as this can aggravate the situation and lead to more stings.
If you are stung, remove the sting and clean the area with soap and water, applying ice will help with swelling.
Always call 111 or your GP if you are worried about a sting, or if your symptoms and the infected area does not improve over a few days.
The NHS says to call 999 if you have symptoms of a severe reaction;
- wheezing or difficulty breathing
- a swollen face, mouth or throat
- nausea or vomiting
- a fast heart rate
- dizziness or feeling faint
- difficulty swallowing
- loss of consciousness
How to get rid of wasps' nests
Due to their volatile nature, you should always seek professional advise and have experts remove them.
Liverpool Council offers a pest control service that is £62 for a single treatment of a wasp of ants nest.
