- Decrease in Wasp Population Compared to Previous Years, as Per Nabu
In Rhineland-Palatinate, animal welfare advocates have been reporting fewer honeybee-like insect nests this summer compared to past years. Rainer Michalski, an expert on Hymenoptera (bees and wasps) at the Nature Conservation Union (NABU) Rhineland-Palatinate, commented, "There are significantly fewer." In preceding summers, he added, they would receive ten to twenty times as many inquiries from individuals seeking information on wasps and managing their nests on their property. For NABU, the decrease in reports serves as an indicator of the insect population distribution. Similarly, animal welfare advocates in Hesse have reported fewer wasps this year.
Michalski attributed this phenomenon to the chilly and wet spring and summer. "They can't fly in cold temperatures and then they also don't find as much food," he stated. As a result, the insects faced unfavorable starting conditions this year. Heavy rain also claimed many wasp lives. Early spring, the young queens emerge, embark on nest-building ventures, and construct the first combs.
From early to mid-August, wasp queens come out, having been impregnated by the males, the drones. "The actual purpose of the colony is then fulfilled," said Michalski. During this time, the drones primarily focus on nurturing themselves. All animals in the wasp colony slowly succumb to death starting in autumn and continuing until the first frosts, with the exception of the young queens. These queens enter a state of hibernation before winter and overwinter in tree bark or wall cracks.
Michalski noted that in recent years, the wasp population has benefited from dry conditions. Despite the lower number of animals this year, he does not foresee any long-term negative consequences. "What many people don't know is that they are efficient pollinators," he stated. Wasps are also essential for the ecosystem as they consume numerous insects.
The decline in honeybee-like insect nests reported by animal welfare advocates could potentially impact the environment, as wasps play a crucial role as efficient pollinators and insect consumers. Rainer Michalski mentioned that wasps have benefited from dry conditions in recent years, suggesting that environmental factors greatly influence the wasp population.
