Last year it was lovely, the little batards were rarely seen. But this Summer appears to have brought the wasps back. It's impossible to sit outside, catching the evening sun whilst reading a book and sipping a nice cold beer... when you're Room 101 is wasps, that is.

The term wasp is the common name given to most species of hymenopteran insects (all but bees and ants). There are about 75,000 species of wasp that are known, the most common of which, is of course the stinging wasp.

Almost all of those species are parasites. They females lay their eggs on a target plant or animal and depart. The mother doesn't stay to tend to their eggs, they are left to develop, hatch and fend for themselves. The stinging wasp does not conform to this norm, however.

It creates an organised and densely packed nest of laval cells. They create these out of dry wood and bark along with their own saliva. An outer layer is created to provide protection for the entire colony. So they're clever things.

Regarding the common stinging wasp, when it comes to defending themselves, only the female's can administer a sting. They do this through their ovipositor. The males do not have stingers. Apparantly, absolutely no species of wasp will sting unprovoked and unless they are defending themselves or the nest.

If some colonies of wasp are disturbed, it's possible for more than 100 defending wasps can be released to protect the nest. Which frightens me. *Shudder*. The poison from a sting contains factors which release histamine, which basically breaks down the red blood cells.

Most humans react temporarily with pain and swelling, however 1% of the population are hyperallergic. And this means those fuckers can be lethal.

My Dad is hyperallergic to both bee and wasps stings, so I've had it drummed into me from the tender age of nil that these things are to be avoided at all cost. I've managed to get through 20 years of my life without being stung, so I've still no idea whether I'll be affected in the same way.

So I, or indeed you, could be one in a hundred that could die, whilst minding your own business with a nice book and a sweet tasting beer.