Wasps wreak havoc at World Darts Championship

When Jurjen van der Velde stepped onto the stage at London’s Alexandra Palace during the World Darts Championship, he brought an unexpected piece of equipment: a can of bug spray. Hoping to avoid the wasps that have plagued the tournament, he sprayed the oche area before throwing his first dart.

It didn’t work.

Despite the impromptu treatment, wasps continued to buzz players throughout the event, forcing swats, dodges and even one mid-air dart strike. Van der Velde ultimately lost his first-round match 3–1, proving that aerosol insecticides are no match for an active wasp issue — especially in a large, open venue.

Why the wasps didn’t go anywhere

From a pest management standpoint, the outcome isn’t surprising. Off-the-shelf wasp sprays are designed for direct contact, not long-term control or colony elimination. Spraying an open area without addressing the nest, entry points or attractants offers little more than temporary relief.

In environments like Alexandra Palace, a large, high-traffic and food-adjacent area, wasps are likely responding to odor cues, lighting and accessible food sources. Without exclusion, sanitation and proper nest removal, the insects will simply keep returning.

Incidents like this create an opportunity for PMPs. When consumers see high-profile failures of DIY pest control, it reinforces the value of trained technicians, proper PPE and targeted treatment plans.

It’s also a reminder to educate customers about insecticide misuse. Spraying randomly, especially in public or enclosed spaces, can raise safety, liability and compliance concerns. As a PMP, your role isn’t just to eliminate pests, but to manage risk and apply products according to the label and best practices.

Use stories like this in your marketing, blogs or customer conversations to explain why professional wasp control focuses on inspection, nest location, timing and follow-up, not just a quick spray.

A can of bug spray didn’t solve a wasp problem on one of the world’s biggest dart stages and it won’t solve your customers’ problems either. For PMPs, this headline reinforces a simple truth: effective wasp control requires strategy, not shortcuts.