– New, strange forms in wasps

Over the years, the Public Health Agency has seen a clear pattern in wasp stings, where every second year is called a wasp year.

After a year with relatively few, expect a big activity again.

– We think it’s a competition between wasp queens that sting in the spring. They compete for camp sites and food, says Marie Steinert du Dogbladet, director of the Department of Pest Control at the Institute of Public Health.

However, in recent years, FHI has seen a change in this pattern.

– Now we’re seeing some new, strange patterns, says Steinert.

International distribution

A rule to remember is that wasp years occur when there is an even year like 2020.

– Even-numbered years tend to be peak years, but in the pandemic year 2020, when we were told there would be a peak, we found a trough. There was a small increase in 2021, which we consider a normal down year, and the same level in 2022, Steinert says.

So not a typical “leap year”.

– The head of the department says that this year should really be a low year, but because of previous years it is now uncertain.

– Many theories

FHI gets its statistics from wasp control reports by pest control agencies across the country, and Steinert says they wonder if these statistics may have contributed to “cheating them” in recent years.

– This may be related to the epidemic, in the spring of 2020 more people were at home and removed the bugs themselves instead of contacting a pest control company, he says.

– But there are many theories, she continues.

Monster wasp

Geethamsen – A giant wasp known as the “monster wasp” or “killer wasp”, was extinct in Norway for 100 years, but returned in 2007.

– It came full circle and expanded. We don’t know how much, but we’re seeing it increase, says Steinert.

The goat hornet is prey for common stinging wasps, he further explains.

– We wonder if the decline in the fight against stinging wasps in eastern Norway is due to goat hornbills eating them, Steinert says.