Why Are Wasps Flying Into Your Bexleyheath Home? Common Causes and Solutions
Knowing what wasps do at each point in the season helps you decide whether a visitor is a one-off or a sign of a growing nest.
A season in stages
Wasps do not behave the same way all year. Their numbers, their interests and the risks they pose all change. Understanding this helps you decide what to do, and when.
A household in Bexleyheath, in the London Borough of Bexley, can use the stages below as a guide. The weather moves things earlier or later, so treat the months as approximate.
The calendar is only a rough guide. A warm spring can bring the first nests earlier, and a cool, wet summer can slow the growth of the colony. The best approach is to watch what the wasps are doing around your home, rather than counting weeks.
Late April and May
Wasps begin building nests from late April, depending on the weather. The queen starts alone, choosing a site in a gap, a shed, a hole in the ground or a roof void. In this stage you may see a large, slow wasp exploring corners. She is not a threat, but she is the start of a colony.
Wasps indoors at this stage are usually queens that have wandered in. Open a window and let them go.
If you notice a queen early in the year, there is little to do except avoid blocking her way and keep an eye on where she goes. A queen who comes back to a hole or a gap on several days has probably settled. It is the first chance to catch a nest when it is small.
Two practical examples show the difference. A householder who sees one wasp in the kitchen in early June and none the next day probably has a visitor. A householder who sees three or four in the same room each afternoon for a week, with nothing sweet out, has a nest to find. The timing in the season changes how worried you should be, but the pattern matters more than the month.
June
The first workers emerge, and the nest begins to grow. Traffic at the entrance builds. Wasps spend more time hunting for protein to feed the grubs, so you may find them around meat, pet food and bins.
If you see regular activity at one point, such as a gap in the roof or a hole in the ground, make a note. A small nest is easiest to deal with, and acting early is wise.
By June, the grubs need feeding, and foraging workers spend a lot of time looking for protein. That is why wasps can appear on a barbecue, around the dog's bowl or on a tray of raw meat. Keep these covered and clear them away quickly.
Nest sites are not always where you expect. In a typical year, they turn up in lofts, wall cavities, sheds, hedges, tree hollows and the ground. The site matters less than the traffic. If you can see a line of wasps in one place, that is what to report.
July and August
The colony expands quickly, and August is the peak. A nest can hold from 2,000 to 10,000 or more wasps. They are more visible, more numerous and more likely to enter the house. Sweet foods and drinks become more attractive as the season advances.
This is when most callouts happen. If you have a nest, it is large, and stings are likelier if anyone disturbs it.
Many people only notice wasps at the peak of the season, because before that the numbers were small. This does not mean the problem began in August. A nest that is noticed in August has often been growing since May.
Weather matters in how people experience the peak. In a hot, dry August, wasps seem to be everywhere, because they are active for longer each day and seek out water and sugar. After a wet spell, they may seem fewer, but the nest is still there. Do not be lulled by a quiet day.
September onwards
The colony begins to decline, but not at once. Workers become more interested in sugar, fall into drinks and bother people eating outdoors. A nest may remain active for some time, depending on the weather.
Do not assume the problem will go away without help if wasps are still entering your home. Wash the area, remove the sting if you can see it and hold a cold pack against it. Ring 999 immediately for difficulty breathing, wheezing, swelling of the lips, face or throat, dizziness or a spreading rash. Anyone with a known allergy are best advised to see their GP.
As autumn comes, drinks, cakes and fallen fruit draw sluggish wasps into houses and gardens. Cover food, check cups before drinking and clear windfalls. These habits protect you from stings during the part of the year when wasps are most irritable.
If you are planning a late-summer event, such as a garden party, a christening or a wedding at home, think about the wasp calendar. Book a visit in good time so that the garden is clear. Same-day service is available, but a planned visit gives you more control over the day.
Booking
Treating a nest costs a fixed £120 with Wasp Exterminator Kent, and the graphic says one visit guaranteed, and a further nest at the same address costs £60 more. Technicians are fully insured and qualified, and they serve domestic and commercial customers seven days a week, with same-day service available.
Phone 01622 410 019 or fill in the online booking form. Say when you first saw wasps, and tell us if anyone is allergic.
If you live in a flat or share an entrance with others, tell your neighbours or managing agent at the same time. A nest in a shared roof or wall is easier to deal with in one visit.
Wasps on your property in Bexleyheath?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.