The article about wasps by Ben Aldiss (Keep calm and wear white…, theguardian.com, 24 August) was very helpful in explaining why calm behaviour, removing sugary temptations, and being well-covered and tucked in (with white, loose-fitting but tight-cuffed clothing) are the best ways to minimise yellow-jacket wasp sting risk.
However, we at Buglife disagree with the statement that wasp traps are a good idea. Attempting to reduce sting risk using small numbers of simple traps is ineffective. Yellow-jacket wasps breed quickly to maximise the use of available resources, and trying to outpace their productivity is nearly impossible.
For instance, a 2002 study showed that 80 traps around a 20-hectare water park failed to control yellow-jackets; and in 2006 after 42,367 yellow-jackets were slaughtered at a health spa, 91 stings were still reported.
When traps containing sugar or alcohol are put up near people, they actually attract wasps, thereby increasing sting risk. In addition, wasp traps will also kill some collateral animals, including bees, moths, beetles and flies.
Unless you are prepared to fund an extensive professional trapping project that includes pesticide use, and nest removal, then it is best to find ways for the human being and wasp to coexist peacefully.
Matt Shardlow
Chief executive, Buglife
• Philip Hoare claims that wasps sting “only if you attack first” (Reasons to celebrate the wasp plague, G2, 13 August). In the past month I have twice been stung by wasps, once while minding my own business at a bus stop and once picking raspberries in my garden. Consequently I am not persuaded that I should love wasps.
Hannah Hyam
Bath
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