Big surprise

Having opened a bar of chocolate earlier in the day then wrapped it loosely up I began to open it about half an hour ago, surprised to see what I at first thought was a spider. It was NOT, when I attempted to grab it crawled into view to reveal itself as a WASP. In my state of surprise it managed to fly off very slowly. Got the spray out and did for it. Never heard of this before at this time of year.

It's a good job you didn't grab it, Anne, otherwise you might have got a very nasty sting.

It is very early for a wasp though, so maybe it was just an early riser!

Mollie,
Been reading that Queens hibernate in winter as bee's do. They then build a nest and breed. Looks like I could have had a lodger all winter.

Anne, it wouldn't be a bad idea if you looked into a dark place, like a shed or somewhere, to see if there's a nest and, if there is, get a professional to get rid of it as soon as. You don't want them all waking up at the same time and forming a swarm as that would be highly dangerous.

I've been told by a bee keeper that bees don't hibernate as such, hibernate means they sleep for a long time, Bees form into a ball and the queen is in the centre and the other bees form up around her in ranks of noblement with the worker bees changing places with the soldier bees on the outer edges to share the heat, When the weather changes the workers and soldiers go out hunting pollen so. I suspect an early riser detected the sweet smell of your chocolate and came on the hunt of nectar.

So we presume wasps do the same or similar. Either way, if Anne has a nest in her shed or garage, it needs to be removed very quickly.

Just as a side note. If you're stung by a bee, dab the area with bicarbonate of soda; if a wasp stings you, dab the affected area with vinegar.

I was once stung on my back by a wasp, and that part of my back swelled up and I didn't know what to do, so I jumped in my car and drove to the British Military Hospital in Berlin where I was told how to treat it.

Seen one or two Bees flying around but not seen any Wasps.

I hate wasps. Been stung more than once. They are cocky, vicious little sods They are single minded in what they want, get in their way at your own risk.
I think I'm tad paranoid about them.