Wasps happening? Decline in wasp population following 2012 downpours

The wasp may not be the most welcome summer visitor but its buzzing presence has been strangely absent in Ireland this year.

July was one of our hottest months on record but the insect has been missing from its usual haunts of picnics, barbecues, and ice cream cones.

Numbers are low this year because of a huge decline in the wasp population in the washout summer of 2012, according to experts.