The German wasp (Paravespula germanica) and common wasp (Paravespula vulgaris) have black and yellow stripes and grow about 2 cm long. The German wasp has a head shield with three black spots, while the common wasp you can tell from the vertical line on its head shield. The common wasp's body is a little more pointed than the German wasp's. Its yellow colouring is not so vivid, and the body is less shiny than the German wasp's.

Wasps live in nests made of a paper-like mass. The nests are only used for a year, and most of the insects die in October. Only the queens can survive through the winter, and this is why wasps are rare in spring. Most of the queen's eggs develop into worker wasps, which can then become real pests in the late summer and autumn. It is important to realise that wasps themselves also catch plenty of insects, in particular harmful ones, and feed them to their larvae. A wasp colony can destroy up to two kilograms of insects per day. Nevertheless in autumn the community has already broken down. The wasps have only themselves to consider, there are no larvae, and their preferred food is carbohydrates.

Wasps can cause very painful stings that stay swollen for a long time and itch badly.

Preventive measures and control

• Do not leave food and drinks uncovered
• Stud slices of lemon with cloves and lay them out as a deterrent
• Heat vinegar in a saucepan
• Heat slices of fat or onion in a saucepan until the smell spreads - but only if you don't mind the smell
• Never interfere with wasp nests, this is a job for a professional (fire brigades provide information)
• Use insecticides against individual wasps (Flying Insect Spray, Wasp Trap)

The basic rule is:

If you are stung in the mouth or throat area (which may cause suffocation), obtain emergency medical care immediately. Until it is available suck ice (to reduce the swelling).