Over a fifth of Brits agree that wasps are the garden insect they love to hate, according to a new poll.
The survey by GardeningExpress.co.uk asked people to pick out from a list of ten, the garden creature they hate the most.
Wasps topped the poll with 21% of the vote with respondents saying they looked sinister, could sting and had no real purpose apart from annoying people.
Slimy slugs took second place with 18% saying they were completely pointless, destroyed too many plants and the trails of slime turned their stomach.
Taking third place in the poll of Britain’s most hated garden bug was Daddy Long Legs with 15% agreeing on this one, closely followed by moths taking 14% of the vote.
Coming in at fifth were ants with 11% with respondents saying nests are a big nuisance and that the insects get everywhere.
Spiders came next with 10% of the vote closely followed by snails collecting 7%.
Taking joint eighth place were worms and bumble bees with just 2% saying they disliked these.
Propping up the bottom of the poll were ladybirds with just 1% cent of the vote.
One respondent said: “I’ve never seen the point of slugs. All they do is leave a disgusting trail of slime around my garden and eat my plants. My flowers have been nibbled to pieces – if it wasn’t for slug pellets my garden would be destroyed.”
Another said: “My children despise wasps. They can be happily playing in the garden and all of a sudden one will scream wasp and they’ll coming running in at a hundred miles an hour. They’re very menacing to look at, and of course they can sting. Nasty creatures!”
A third added: “How can anyone hate a ladybird? I love them. They’re so sweet with their red shells and black spots, are great garden pest catchers and when they crawl up your arm it really tickles. I adore them.”
A spokesman for GardeningExpress.co.uk said: “Most garden bugs have a purpose – eating other nasties, creating nutrients for plants to eat and of course pollinating plants and flowers. Without them our gardens would be very dull.
“However we feel about bugs, whether we love them or loathe them, it’s essential we protect those native to the UK and encourage them into our gardens.
“This can be done very simply – you could have a small section of your garden planted with the things they love and if you keep that patch out of the way, the bugs shouldn’t cause you too much bother.”
Top ten in full
- Wasps 21%
- Slugs 18%
- Daddy long legs 15%
- Moths 13%
- Ants 11%
- Spiders 10%
- Snails 7%
- Worms 2%
- Bumble bees 2%
- Ladybirds 1%
