A wasp nest is easiest to deal with when it is small, but it is often found late. These are the signs to look for and the risks worth taking seriously.
Any of these in summer is a reason to look more carefully. Wasps seen once or twice in the kitchen are likely just wandering in; wasps repeatedly seen in the same room, particularly an upstairs one, point to a nest nearby.
Wasps chew wood to make nest paper, so a colony in a loft or shed can weaken fascia boards, timber and insulation over a season. A nest inside a wall can cause staining as workers chew towards light or warmth. The damage is usually modest, not structural, but a blocked entrance can send them through plasterboard into the room. The real harm is usually the stings.
A wasp can sting repeatedly, and a disturbed colony defends itself in numbers. Most stings cause pain and swelling for a day or two. Some people are allergic and react severely; swelling of the face or throat, breathlessness, dizziness or a spreading rash needs urgent medical help, not waiting to see. Stings in the mouth or throat are also serious because of the swelling.
Children, who may poke at a nest or run through a swarm, and pets, who may sniff at the entrance. People who work outdoors on hedges, roofs or gutters face a particular risk of striking a hidden nest by accident. Gardeners clearing sheds in late summer, when the colony is large and workers are aggressive, are another group who often get stung.
As the season goes on, workers have fewer grubs to feed and are more drawn to sweet drinks and food, so they become a nuisance around outdoor eating. This is the time of year when stings are most common. The colony dies off in autumn and winter, but a nest that is near a door can still cause weeks of trouble before then.
Gardens and outbuildings carry hidden risks for those who work on them. Hedge trimming, strimming and clearing sheds are classic ways to find a nest by accident, and the first you know of it is a number of stings at once. If you are about to do any of these jobs in summer, spend a minute watching the area for wasp traffic first. If you see a steady flow, stop, step away calmly and arrange treatment before returning.
If you have seen the signs above, call 0113 347 0014 or message us on WhatsApp for a free quote.
For most people a sting is painful but not dangerous. The real danger is for those with an allergy, and for stings in the mouth or throat. A disturbed nest can deliver many stings very quickly, so keeping away from it is the safest approach.
Slightly. They chew wood for nest material and may stain ceilings if a nest is inside a loft or wall. They do not usually cause structural harm. The bigger concern is people being stung when a nest is close to doors, windows or a busy garden.
Colony numbers peak around then, and workers have fewer grubs to feed, so they go looking for sweet food and drink. That brings them to bins, picnics and drinks. As autumn arrives, the colony dies off and numbers fall quickly.
Tell us what you have seen and where, and we will come back to you. There are no call-out charges and surveys are free for homes and businesses.
