Wasps can be menacing creatures, some people can describe the terror of being caught outdoors amidst a wasp swarm. Others, sadly, have not survived the wrath of aggressive wasps. The late summer and early fall is the time of year that sees the greatest degree of wasp activity, and therefore, the greatest wasp-related injuries. For a period of several weeks, one particular family in Australia had several close calls with wasps. Sometimes, members of the family found themselves surrounded by several of the fierce flying insects. Amazingly, every single dangerous encounter this family had with the insects occured within their own home, completely shut-off from the outdoors. When the family discovered the reason for these encounters, they were taken aback to say the least.
The Australian family had been exposed to wasps several times, but they were most noticeable in the home’s bathroom. In an effort to find the source of the wasps, the woman inspected her yard and the areas around her home, but she did not find a nest of any sort. Eventually, the woman called a pest control professional, and after he noticed a wasp around the bathroom’s ceiling fan, he had a pretty good idea as to where the insects were coming from. Upon inspecting the attic, the pest control professional, Shane, found an enormous wasp nest, the largest one that he had ever seen. Shane found the nest coiled around a duct-pipe. After finding the nest, he was forced to turn off the lights, as it disturbed angry wasps that seemed intent on attacking him.
As it turned out, the wasps had been traveling down a steam pipe that led into the family’s bathroom. Later on, Shane discovered that the massive nest had been housing around 2,000 wasps. The infestation had to be eradicated by killing the queen as well as the rest of the colony. According to Shane, the unusually hot weather in parts of Australia this fall has been helping wasp nests grow to incredible sizes. The uninhabited nest remains in the family’s home at their request, as they want to show-off its monster size to their children and neighbors.
Have you ever found a wasp nest located within a hidden location of your home?