Has anyone else noticed a huge amount of queen wasps hibernating (or attempting to) so far this year? Usually I come across one or two during the winter, however this year I must have found dozens to date. 17 queens have been evicted from my 'winter Land Rover' alone as I set about preparing it for the winter weather which we probably won't experience this year. From the 'big shed', I have probably cast out in excess of fifty in total. All germanica or vulgaris.
2012 - the year of the wasp. You heard it here first..!
have noticed a lot of wasps myself in my local haunts but didn't think about it. Have not seen a butterfly in 3 months so kinda missing seeing them, only saw 5 moths in two months, so missing seeing any leps. The grey sallow in my garden still has all its leaves (all yellowing though), which I thought was a little odd given its got quite cold on recent and snowed slightly and the other trees in garden don't have leaves, even the other 2 grey sallows about the same age.
the mahonia is flowering which probably brought her in, as is the elephants ears and also some sweet rocket!
