When Is Wasp Season in Chislehurst?
Leaving a nest to see what happens is a common choice, and understanding what waiting actually involves helps you decide whether it is worth it.
What waiting really means
There is a common feeling that a wasp nest might sort itself out. Maybe it is small. Maybe it is out of the way. Maybe the wasps will go. Waiting seems free, and it often seems sensible.
It is not free, however. The first nests go up from late April, a little earlier or later depending on the weather. The colony grows through the summer and peaks in August, with a nest able to hold from 2,000 to 10,000 or more wasps. Waiting means living with all that growth. A household in Chislehurst, in the London Borough of Bromley, that decides to wait is accepting what follows.
This article sets out what that is, so the choice is an informed one.
The aim is not to push you towards a particular choice, but to make the trade-offs plain.
The cost in comfort
The first cost of waiting is the loss of space. As a nest grows, the area around it becomes harder to use. A back door, a patio, a washing line or a play area near the nest can be out of bounds by midsummer.
- Windows nearest the nest have to be kept closed.
- Gardening near the nest becomes risky.
- Meals outdoors become harder as the wasps multiply.
- Family and friends may not want to visit.
- Children and pets have to be kept away.
These are everyday restrictions, and they accumulate. A few weeks of them can take the pleasure out of the best part of the year.
There is also the matter of mood. Spending weeks on edge about the wasps is a real cost, and many people find that the relief of having the nest dealt with is out of proportion to the effort of arranging it.
The cost in risk
The second cost is the risk of being stung. A live nest is defended, and wasps can swarm and sting if they feel threatened. The larger the colony, the greater the chance that something sets it off: a mower, a ball in the hedge, a child's curiosity, or a dog running across the grass.
For most people a sting is painful and short-lived. For someone who is allergic, it can be serious. Call 999 for signs of a serious reaction such as swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash. Anyone with a known allergy should speak to their GP.
The risk goes up through the summer, and it is highest around the peak and in the weeks afterwards, when wasps are seeking sweet food and drink.
Visitors add to the risk. Friends, family and delivery people have no idea there is a nest, and they will not know to keep away from it unless you tell them.
It is worth remembering that the risk is not evenly spread. The people most affected are usually the ones who garden, mow, hang washing or walk the dog, so ask them what they have noticed.
The cost in simplicity
A nest dealt with in spring is a small job. Early spring is the best time to deal with nests, because there are fewer wasps, and the position is easy to see. A nest dealt with in August is the same job at a much larger scale, with more wasps, more activity and more pressure.
The price does not change, which is worth knowing. A fixed £120 covers each nest, with one visit guaranteed, and any further nest on the same property is £60 each. The cost of waiting is therefore not in the bill, but in the loss of comfort and the extra risk.
It is also true that you cannot easily predict the size of a nest by looking at it. A small entrance can lead to a large colony.
For a business or rented property, the cost of waiting includes customers or tenants who may feel unsafe. Check your lease or tenancy for who is responsible for arranging treatment.
When waiting is a reasonable choice
There are cases where waiting is sensible. If a nest is in a remote corner of a large property, well away from any path, window or play area, and nobody in the household is allergic, some people choose to leave it and let the autumn decline run its course.
If you do, keep these points in mind.
- Keep everyone, including visitors, away from the nest.
- Do not mow, strim or dig near it.
- Review the decision regularly, as the nest grows.
- Be ready to book if the situation changes.
Think of waiting as a decision that you will revisit, not a decision you make once and forget.
It helps to set a date for the review, such as the first of each month, and put it in the calendar so it does not slip.
When you decide to act
When you are ready, the process is simple. Ring 01622 410 019, or fill in the booking form on the contact page. Wasp Exterminator Kent is open seven days a week, offers same-day service, and has evening and weekend appointments. You will not be charged a call-out fee, and the time of day makes no difference to the price.
Domestic and commercial customers are served by technicians who are fully insured and qualified. Tell the team if anyone at home is allergic to stings, so the booking can be prioritised, and ask whether the empty nest can be taken down.
Whatever you decide, make the decision with the whole household. A nest that one person is relaxed about may be a real worry for another, and a short conversation at the start of the season avoids disagreement in the middle of August.
Wasps on your property in Chislehurst?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.