Natur&ëmwelt Publishes Children's Book to Dispel Myths About Wasps

On Monday 11 August 2025, natur&ëmwelt asbl announced the release of its new Pixi book Mia, Lino und die Wespen (Mia, Lino and the Wasps) to raise awareness about wasps.

Midsummer marks the start of wasps' peak season. As natur&ëmwelt explained, many people react with panic or annoyance to these agile insects, but these fears are often unfounded and based on a lack of knowledge. To address this, the non-profit organisation has published a new Pixi book aimed at primary school children, helping them to better understand wasps instead of fearing them.

In Mia, Lino and the Wasps, key questions are answered in a clear and child-friendly manner. How dangerous are wasps really? How can you avoid being stung? What should you do in an emergency? And why do we need wasps at all?

This book aims to educate children and adults about insects and help them to overcome their fear of them. Wasps are particularly prevalent in August and September, when their colonies reach their peak and the insects are busy searching for food. This makes it all the more important to raise awareness of their ecological value from an early age, according to natur&ëmwelt.

The non-profit argued that wasps are much more than just annoying pests. They play an indispensable role in the ecosystem as natural pest controllers and pollinators, for example. Nevertheless, wasps are often persecuted and their nests destroyed. As wild animals, wasps are protected. They may only be removed or killed if they pose a specific threat. However, most nests do not pose a real danger to humans, so removal is usually unnecessary. This new Pixi book therefore provides simple guidelines for coexisting peacefully with wasps, from avoiding sudden movements to correctly handling open food.

The Pixi book is now available free of charge in the natur&ëmwelt shop (while stocks last) and targets parents, schools and environmental educators. The book was produced as part of the awareness-raising work of the "Bestëbser, méi wéi Beien!" initiative and is supported by Luxembourg's Ministry for the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity.

To accompany the book, natur&ëmwelt has been offering a nationwide wasp advisory service since 2019. This service provides expert assistance to citizens with questions or concerns about wasp nests. The advisory network comprises trained volunteers and environmental experts who can provide information and reassurance. If necessary, they can also coordinate solutions such as nest relocation to avoid unnecessary killings and promote peaceful coexistence between humans and animals.