Wasp Nest in a Cavity Wall – How Professionals Treat Hidden Nests in Ashford
Before you book a treatment, it is worth being sure the insects going into the wall are wasps, because bees need a very different response.
Why the difference matters
Plenty of insects fly in and out of holes in walls, and several look similar at a glance. Wasps, honeybees and bumblebees are the ones people confuse most often. The difference matters because we treat wasps only. If your insects are bees, the right person to call is a local beekeeper or the relevant bee organisation.
Many householders in Ashford, in Kent, are surprised to find out how different the two groups are once they look closely. Bees are important pollinators, and many people would rather see them rehomed than destroyed. Wasps are a different matter when they are nesting in your wall.
So take a few minutes to look before you call.
Beekeepers and bee organisations are used to being asked about colonies in walls and roofs, and they can tell you more about the options. We are not able to name a particular one, but a local search will turn up someone nearby.
Looking at the insect itself
Start with the body. Wasps are slim and smooth with a narrow waist, and their yellow and black bands are sharp and clean. They look almost polished, with little visible hair.
Honeybees are a duller golden-brown, with a fuzzy look and a rounder, more blunt body. Bumblebees are large and very furry, with soft bands of yellow, black or buff, and sometimes a pale tail.
Other clues:
- Wasps fly in quick, direct lines and hover in the air at the entrance
- Bees tend to be more rounded and slower in flight, sometimes with pollen on their legs
- Wasps carry wood fibre or chewed insects rather than pollen
- Wasps are drawn to meat, sweet drinks and rubbish bins
Use your phone zoom, from a good distance, to look. Do not get close to the entrance.
Smell can be a clue, though not one to get close for. Honeybee colonies often give off a sweet, waxy scent near the entrance on warm days, while wasp nests have no such smell. Do not approach the hole to test this.
Behaviour at the entrance
Watch what the insects do at the opening. Wasps usually make a beeline for the hole, land and walk in almost at once. They leave in the same decisive way. A busy entrance with this behaviour on a warm day is typical of a wasp nest.
Bees may hover more or crawl about the entrance, and bumblebee nests often have only a modest amount of traffic, with relatively few insects in and out. Honeybee swarms and colonies are far larger and appear in a different way, often as a cluster.
If you are unsure, take a photo from a distance and send it with your enquiry. If it turns out to be bees, you will be pointed to the right place, and no wasp treatment will be booked.
A different tell is the number of insects. A solitary bee site might have a dozen holes with one insect each. A wasp nest has one main entrance with a stream of traffic. That difference is usually obvious after a few minutes of watching.
Other insects that get mistaken for wasps
Some harmless insects mimic wasps. Hoverflies are the best-known example: they wear yellow and black stripes but only have one pair of wings, hover steadily in the air and do not sting. Solitary bees and wasps can also dig into soft mortar or sandy walls, and they use individual burrows rather than a shared nest.
A few solitary insects entering holes in a wall do not make a colony. If you see only a handful of insects, each using its own hole, and no stream of traffic to one point, it may be one of these.
We deal with wasp nests, not solitary insects or other pests. If you are unsure which you have, ask us and we will say what we can from a photo.
If you have a garden full of flowers, you will naturally see many bees. That does not mean they are nesting in your wall. Look at where they go at the end of the visit, not just where they feed.
If it is a wasp nest
If the evidence points to wasps, the treatment goes ahead through the entry point, with no need to open the wall. The fee is a fixed £120 per nest, with one visit guaranteed and no call-out charge. A second nest on the property is £60 extra.
Keep people and pets away from the wall, close windows on that side of the house and do not block the opening. If anyone in the household is allergic to stings, tell us at booking so that it can be prioritised.
Ask at the time of booking whether the empty nest can be taken down. That depends on its position.
If you are uncertain about the insects but they are clearly going into a wall in numbers, it is still worth getting in touch. A short description and a photo are usually enough for us to say whether wasps are likely, and being sure beats guessing.
Booking and sealing
Visits are arranged by phone on 01622 410 019 or through the contact page form. The technician is fully insured and qualified, and the team works seven days a week, with evening and weekend appointments and same-day service.
After the wasps have gone and the wall is quiet, have the gap sealed. This helps stop new queens from using the same space in spring. Do it after, not before, treatment, so the colony is not forced to find a new exit through the house.
Keep a note of what you saw, because it helps whoever you eventually speak to, whether that is us or a beekeeper.
Wasps on your property in Ashford?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.