Is Removing a Wasp Nest Necessary?

Whether you’re opening your cafe, pub, restaurant or other outdoor space for business or you’re getting into the garden at home for barbecue season, the last thing you want is to be tormented by a wasp colony. The warm weather always entices wasps out from late spring and throughout summer, so this month we’ve created a handy guide to help you figure out if removing a wasp nest is necessary, as well as some other tips and info to help you better understand wasps.

What does a wasp nest look like?

A wasp nest will usually look like a brown or grey, spherical mound, having been created from chewed wood that gives the nest a papery finish. Often, you may not be able to actually see a wasp nest, especially when it has been created inside a crevice or hidden under the eaves of a building. If you need help with wasp nest identification, please contact us at Pest Defence today.

How do wasp nests start?

Wasp nests are usually created once fertilised queen wasps come out of hibernation. This differs in timings year to year depending on the temperature. The queen wasp will then seek a space to create a small, golf ball-sized nest that is then expanded on once she produces more worker wasps.

How to get rid of a wasp nest

You should first consider whether a wasp nest definitely needs to be removed, as they are good pollinators for local wildlife. If the wasps aren’t coming near your garden or outdoor space, then they can be left alone as the nest will naturally die off after summer.

If the wasps are causing issues, however, you should seek professional pest control services to help you deal with the nest safely. At Pest Defence, we offer a variety of options depending on the size of the nest and its location, helping to eradicate the wasp nest from your property. We do not recommend trying to tackle a wasp nest yourself, as they will defend the nest from any threat.

Will wasps return to the nest next year?

Wasps only tend to use a nest for one year. Once the colony has died off, a queen wasp will hibernate elsewhere in a sheltered space. If you have found an inactive wasp nest, there is usually no need to take action.

Hornet nest vs wasp nest

Wasps and hornets are part of the same subfamily, so share similar characteristics, particularly the fact that their nests are almost identical – a chewed, pulped wood material for a papery finish. They both tend to nest in similar spots, too, so you may not be able to tell until you see the specific insects coming and going.

When will wasps leave the nest?

Typically, wasps will start to die off once summer ends and autumn brings a drop in temperature. Some nests may die off sooner than this, especially if you seek preemptive help to tackle a wasp nest that has formed in spring or early summer.

How can I stop wasps nesting on my property?

It will always be hard to prevent a wasp nest from forming, but by sealing all gaps, cracks and crevices around the eaves of your building and blocking off areas such as sheds and garages, you can eliminate potential spots for them to build. You should also keep waste tightly shut away in bins and avoid leaving out food or drink sources that might attract wasps, as this might single your space out as a good area to start a nest in.

Do you have a wasp problem that you’d like taken care of this summer? If you have a nest forming on your property or you’re suffering from a colony constantly attacking in your outdoor space, contact us today. Covering Colchester, Brentwood, Chelmsford and surrounding areas, we can identify a wasp nest and recommend the right action to remove it safely.

Call our friendly team today and we’ll be happy to help you with any wasp or hornet problems – we even offer emergency pest control services.