Warning Issued as ‘Drunk’ Wasps Pose Stinging Threat in England After Feasting on Fermented Fruit

Wasp season is taking an unruly turn in one corner of the English countryside, where residents are being warned to keep their distance from unusually hostile, sugar-crazed swarms.

According to a report published by The Sun on Wednesday, August 26, the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) issued a warning to residents in East Riding, Yorkshire, after worker wasps were found gorging on fermenting fruit and turning aggressive as a result.

Drunken wasp swarms are a familiar late-summer occurrence, per the outlet. This binge can trigger a spike in aggressive stinging incidents, particularly in areas with fruit trees or unsecured garbage receptacles.

Natalie Bungay, head of membership and technical at the BPCA, explained the seasonal shift in wasp behavior. “This happens when the queen stops producing eggs and the workforce has nothing to do other than look for fermented fruits and sugars,” she said, per the outlet.

The sugar binge doesn’t end well for the insects — or the people nearby.

“Wasps quickly get inebriated and this is typically when you can expect them to be more aggressive and likely to sting,” Bungay said, per the report.

Despite their newfound aggression, Bungay urged residents not to interfere with the insects unnecessarily.

“Like bees and hornets, wasps are pollinators and, where possible, are best left alone,” she said, The Sun reported.

Those who do spot a wasp nest in a busy area should assess whether removal is necessary and, if so, contact a BPCA member for assistance, according to the outlet.

Per the report, elderly people and young children may be particularly vulnerable to wasp stings and potential complications, including anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction. Residents have also been advised to dispose of sugary food waste properly and to resist the urge to swat at the wasps, which only provokes them further.

The warning follows a similar phenomenon in Suffolk, where seagulls were seen stumbling into roads after gorging on swarms of flying ants, causing traffic disruptions in the coastal towns of Lowestoft and Aldeburgh, according to the article.