The study aims to learn more about social wasps.

The Big Wasp Survey is seeking citizen scientists to support them with research into different wasp species across the UK.

The group, funded by the Royal Entomological Society, is asking people to set homemade traps in their gardens to capture and identify the locations of wasp species across the country for the survey’s end-of-summer sampling week, starting 26 August.

Citizen scientists will be asked to make a simple trap using a plastic bottle and some beer or orange juice to lure and capture wasps, before then identifying them and reporting the data to the researchers.

Since the survey started in 2017, 3,389 participants have taken part, collecting over 62,000 wasps.

This data has allowed the group to produce species distribution maps, which are enabling researchers to gain new insights into the distribution and diversity of social wasp species across the UK.

Researchers have praised the work of citizen scientists, which they say has meant they can produced species distribution maps of similar quality to those created from four decades worth of research from experts.

Recent data from citizen scientists has allowed researchers from University College London to conduct the first large-scale genetic analysis of a species of yellowjacket wasp known as the Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris).

The researchers analysed 393 wasp samples from the first two years of the study to develop an understanding of the species’ diversity across the country.

The analysis revealed that a single population of the wasp existed across Britain, with its genetics more differentiated in Northern Ireland.

The researchers say that this highlights the wasp’s effectiveness at dispersing itself widely, which may explain its success in human-modified environments.

The group hopes that further support from citizen scientists will enable them to continue to develop their knowledge and understanding of wasps in the UK, as well as discovering what factors are effecting wasp populations.

Senior author and co-founder of the Big Wasp Survey, Professor Seirian Sumner said: “Wasps are incredibly important as natural pest controllers and pollinators, so it’s very exciting that we’re able to improve our understanding of this common and fascinating insect with the support of citizen scientists, while also giving them the opportunity to get better acquainted with wasps, and see this much maligned insect in a different light.”

The next sampling week will commence on 26 August. To register as a citizen scientist, follow this link.

The full study into Vespula vulgaris can be found in the journal Insect Molecular Biology.

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