Deputy François Benoy recently issued a parliamentary inquiry, addressed at ministers Dieschbourg and Bofferding, and concerned with the growing nuisance that wasps represent in the country.
It appears that this summer is particularly problematic, wasps seemingly only showing up around people when food is prepared or served. In Luxembourg, there are almost 300 different kinds of wasps, whereas only two of those are responsible for the majority of conflicts with humans.
The issue can be linked to the elevated and dry temperatures of the current summer and the previous winter, which was considered too mild. Even though the insects are without a doubt a nuisance, minister Dieschbourg emphasised that a peaceful coexistence should still be paramount. Nests should therefore only be removed if the animals represent an imminent threat to people.
Since the foundation of the CGDIS emergency service, firefighters are no longer tasked with the handling of nests. In 2017, around 3,750 such interventions were made. Current numbers could not be conveyed however.
In case a wasp nest is discovered, people are advised to contact the organisation "Natur an Ëmwelt". According to last year's wasp report, most situations were handled without any greater problem. Only in every fifth case, a nest needed to be removed or relocated.
Meanwhile, some traditional pieces of advice on how to fight off wasps are still valid: do not render them more aggressive by slapping around with your hands and try to use mint and lavender to keep the insects away.
