Signs of an Active Wasp Nest

• A steady stream of wasps flying in and out of one spot, especially under eaves or in lofts or wall cavities
• A cloud of several wasps nearby, or general increased sightings in the area
• A grey, papery structure, visible, likely partly hidden behind a vent or gap
• Increased wasp activity around bins or outdoor food and drink, particularly from midsummer onwards

‍

How Wasp Behaviour Changes Through the Seasons 

Wasp queens build their nests alone at first, building their colony up as they head into summer. By July, a single nest will house several thousand wasps. Up to this point, they are generally uninterested in people.

From midsummer onwards, as the colony stops raising new larvae, the workers switch from hunting insects to sugar, leading them to aggressively pursue food, drinks, and bins. The same nest in March and August is a different scale of problem entirely.

Why DIY Treatment Rarely Helps

Shop sprays are repellents, not killers. They can’t penetrate deep into the nest. All they serve to do is agitate the surrounding wasps,  causing them to release pheromones that signal the rest of the nest to defend it, aggressively.

Blocking the entrance doesn't work either. The colony will find or chew another way out, and if the nest is in a loft or wall cavity, that exit may be into the house itself.

Wasp Allergies and Your Safety

A wasp sting can cause anaphylaxis, and some people don't find out they're allergic until a second or third sting. If that's a possibility, don't approach or investigate the nest. Call a professional straight away and keep everyone else away until it's been treated.

‍

‍

‍