Article: Wasps' vanishing act; But there's a sting in the tail . . . hornets are having a fine summer.

Byline: PAUL HARRIS

THE barbecue's burning, the wine is chilling, the table is set in the sunshine.

There's only one thing missing from this idyllic summer scene - the wasps.

There are so few around this year that experts are wondering whether Britain might be a virtually wasp-free paradise in the coming months.

That's the good news. The bad news is that it could be a great year for hornets. Great big hornets, as it turns out, some the size of cocktail sausages with wings.

The rare absence of wasps to pester picnickers appears tohave been brought about by unfavourable weather in late March, April and May, the time when queen ...

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