Before you reach for the phone, it helps to know what kind of nest you have, where it is and what time of year it is. Some can wait. Others should not.
Each nest begins with one queen in spring. Her first workers hatch in early summer and from then on the colony expands through July and August. By late summer it may hold thousands of wasps, and the workers, with fewer grubs to feed, turn to sweet things such as drinks and ice cream. In winter the colony dies, and the nest is not used again.
Daybrook, a suburb of Arnold, has Victorian and inter-war housing with plenty of lofts, eaves, airbricks and garden sheds. Wasps like a sheltered cavity. A hole in the brickwork near a bedroom window or a gap in the soffit opening into a roof void is just what a queen looks for in spring. Many nests are only noticed in July when the traffic of wasps becomes obvious.
A small nest in a remote corner of the garden, late in the year, can be left to die off. A nest by a door, in a loft or above a window is another matter, particularly with children, pets or anyone who is allergic. Do not attempt to seal entrance holes, because wasps may chew through plasterboard and end up in the house.
It is also worth noting the time of day. Wasps are busiest in warm daytime hours, so watching the entrance around midday gives the clearest picture of how active the nest is, and where the flight path leads.
If you cannot see the nest, look for wasps flying in a regular line to and from one spot. Following that path from a distance often leads you to the entry hole.
We treat wasp nests for a fixed cost of £90, with a same day response seven days a week. The treatment takes effect over a few hours, during which wasps may continue to come and go. If the nest is still active within 30 days, we return.
Once the nest is inactive, it can be removed if accessible, or left in place in a loft where it will do no harm. Seal the entry hole afterwards, since the same spot may attract another queen next spring.
If you are unsure, tell us where the nest is and we will advise whether to act now or wait. Call 0115 937 5117 and we will arrange a time to suit you.
Wasps do not reuse an old nest, but a new queen may choose the same sheltered spot next spring. Sealing the entry hole after treatment reduces the chance of a new nest appearing there.
Wasps may continue entering and leaving for a few hours, and a few stragglers may be seen the next day. If you see activity continuing beyond that, tell us.
Tell us what you have seen and where, and we will come back to you. Prices are fixed and there is no call-out charge.
