Dr. Andrew Young, assistant professor in the Ontario Agricultural College, spoke to the Toronto Star about what makes wasps so intrusive this time of year.

Young said that as wasp colonies reach the end of their seasonal lifespan, it leaves male wasps with little to do and even less to eat.

He cautioned people to keep their food indoors to avoid wasps, reminding that, “Even if people find them a bit scary sometimes, wasps are an important part of nature and they deserve our respect.”

Young is an assistant professor in the School of Environmental Sciences where he researches the species diversity and evolutionary history of flower flies.