by Jbs071510 d3 — July 19, 2010—Global pest control provider Rentokil has launched a tool that maps the wasp hotspots this summer around Great Britain, using Twitter. Rentokil says its wasp experts are eager to see if January’s freezing temperatures will mean a reprieve from summer stings, or if the wasps will be out in force as usual, particularly since many nests went untreated for economic reasons last year, which was a bumper year for wasps.
“UKWaspWatch” maps the wasps and wasps’ nest locations tweeted by Twitter users onto an interactive map of the U.K., showing where wasps are prevalent. Contributors are also asked to rate the severity of the sighting–from a single wasp or sting, to a massive wasps’ nest.
Savvas Othon, Technical Director at Rentokil, says, “Wasps in the workplace can be a real nuisance for businesses in the summer months and Rentokil is keen to help identify which areas of the UK are most under threat. Employers are responsible for protecting both customers and employees from the risk of wasps, and left untreated they can be very disruptive.”
