The body of the Common Wasp (also known as the Yellow-Jacket Wasp) is made up of black & yellow bands. The length of a wasp varies between 18 to 23mm depending on if it is an adult queen (23mm), an adult male (22mm) or an adult worker (18mm).

A wasp nest is usually made up of chewed bark & dried timber mixed with saliva, and is a light grey/biege colour with a papery appearance. Wasp nests are most commonly found in the eaves of a building, attics, roof spaces, airbricks, sheds, cavity walls & sometimes trees.

Wasp stings are painful, though not usually dangerous unless you're allergic. The venom from a wasp sting can cause soreness to the skin, along with redness, swelling & itching.

Some people may experience an anaphylactic shock which can be life threatening so be sure to seek medical attention if you develop the following symptoms after being stung...

• a tingling or burning sensation particularly in hands & feet
• difficulty breathing / swelling of the throat
• a rapid drop in blood pressure / dizzyness
• nausea / stomach cramps
• confusion / anxiety / a feeling of impending doom