Warm Weather Fuels Wasp Boom Across UK in 2025

As the UK enters the autumn season in 2025, it appears the mild weather has brought an unexpected guest - a boom in wasp populations across the country. Traditionally, wasps begin to hibernate or die off at the end of the summer, but the unusually warm temperatures have kept them active and thriving.

Pest control experts have reported a significant increase in call-outs to deal with wasp nests, with some anticipating the workload to continue well into December. Craig Morris, who provides pest and wildlife management services in Hampshire, has seen his autumnal wasp-related workload double compared to just three years ago.

"This year has been a very busy year for wasps because the weather has been so mild," said Morris. "These warmer winters mean the queens are surviving in larger numbers than usual." The surge in the number of queens surviving the winter is expected to result in more nests and even higher wasp numbers next year.

The warm spring and summer of 2025 have been a boon for the insects, with Morris describing it as the "busiest period in 17 years." The trend is being observed across the UK, with wasp numbers described as "extraordinary" nationwide. As the frosts that typically arrive in late autumn have been delayed, more wasps are expected to survive through the winter, prolonging the pest control challenges.