Worried by wasps?

Markings and behaviour

  • There are several types of wasps frequently encountered in Britain. They all have the familiar black and yellow barring, and all behave in the same way.
  • The queen wasp forms a nest in spring and after a few weeks the first workers are hatched and the colony expands. By the end of the summer the colony can reach sizes of up to 5,000 individuals.
  • In autumn, several new queens emigrate from the colony and hibernate for the winter. The workers all die from cold during the winter.

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Spotting a nest

  • Wasp nests start with a single cell and get larger over the summer.
  • These are often hanging but can be on any surface.
  • They are oval in shape and can be up to football-sized.

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Wasp stings

  • Stings can be painful and wasps often enter houses to find sweet substances, especially during late summer. However, wasps are likely to attack only if they or their nests are threatened.
  • Wasp stings should be bathed with a vinegar solution.
  • If the sting is in the mouth, sucking an ice cube will ease the discomfort but medical help should be sought.
  • As some people are allergic to stings MEDICAL HELP SHOULD BE SOUGHT IMMEDIATELY at the first sign of excessive swelling or difficulty in breathing.

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Guarding against wasps

  • Each spring check your home, particularly the loft, eaves and sheds for new wasp nests. These will be small with only one or a few wasps, and easy to deal with.
  • Wasps feed on fallen fruit and refuse, so make sure that any fallen fruit in your garden is cleared away regularly, and that rubbish is not accessible to pests of any kind.

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Getting rid of wasps

If wasps have made a nest on your property, contact us as we provide a domestic pest control service.  There is a charge for this service.

Alternatively you may wish to treat the nest yourself. Pesticides are available from hardware stores, make sure you read and follow the instructions before use.