A wasp nest can be treated in a single visit, but the method matters. This guide explains what works, what makes things worse and why the nest should never be knocked down.
Killing wasps one at a time achieves little, because the nest keeps producing more. The queen and the grubs stay inside, while foraging workers fly out to find food. To end the problem, the colony as a whole has to be reached. That is why treatment is aimed at the nest and its entrance, not at the insects flying around the garden.
Because the dust is carried back inside by the wasps themselves, there is no need to open the nest or remove it. You may see some wasps for a day or two afterwards, which is normal and does not mean the treatment has failed. Leave the entrance alone while the colony settles.
Do not knock a nest down, block the hole or pour liquid into it. Each of these provokes the colony, and a blocked nest can send workers chewing through plasterboard or around a window frame into the house. Aerosol sprays sold for wasps work on the insects they touch but rarely reach enough of the colony, and spraying from a ladder at an angry nest is a bad idea. Smoke and petrol are dangerous and illegal to use in this way.
Over the next few days activity should fall away. Once it has stopped completely, the old nest is safe to leave in place; it will not be reused. If it is in a loft and you want it gone, wear gloves and a mask and bag it. A small amount of staining or dropped debris near the entrance is normal. If wasps are still entering the nest after a week, tell the technician.
Anything high up, in a wall cavity, in a roof space or close to a door or window is better left to someone with the right equipment. The same goes for anyone who is allergic to stings. The fixed cost for treating a nest is £90, which for most people is less than the cost of a bad sting and a damaged ladder.
It helps to know what to expect on the day. The technician will usually ask where the nest is, how long it has been active and whether anyone at the property is allergic or has pets that use the area. Keep children and animals indoors during the visit, close the windows nearest the nest and stay away from the area for as long as you are asked to. Most visits are quick. You do not need to be at the nest, and in many cases you do not need to be at home if access is simple.
To arrange treatment, call 0113 347 0014 or message us on WhatsApp for a free quote.
Most activity falls away within a few days, though it depends on the size of the nest. You may still see a few wasps coming and going for a day or two. If they are still active after a week, let the technician know.
Once the colony is inactive the nest can be taken down, but it is not necessary. If you do, wear gloves, use a mask in a dusty loft and bag it up. Never remove a nest while there is still wasp activity around it.
In some places, yes. A small nest high on a quiet outbuilding, far from doors and people, can be left because it dies off in autumn. A nest near a door, in a loft or where someone is allergic should be treated rather than left.
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