In 2014, a homeowner in Winchester, Hampshire, UK, discovered a massive wasp nest in her spare room. The nest, estimated to house around 5,000 wasps, was nearly a meter wide and 30 cm deep, and it had been built over a cherished comforter. Experienced pest controller John Birkett, who had been in the field for 45 years, was called in to deal with the problem. When he attempted to move the comforter, a swarm of wasps burst out. Birkett, wearing protective gear, managed to bring the situation under control within an hour. He discovered that the wasps had chewed right through the bed and mattress. Although Birkett admired the nest as a “wonderful piece of art,” he knew it had to be removed. Despite his reluctance to kill the wasps, he successfully dismantled the nest, preventing any further infestation. This particular case remains one of the most extraordinary wasp encounters in his long career.
