Do Wasps Return to the Same Nest Every Year? A Guide for Hempstead Gardens
A ball of grey paper in the hedge is a wasp nest, but plenty of other things get mistaken for one, so it pays to know what you are actually looking at.
Before asking whether it will return, identify it
Many calls about old nests begin with a misunderstanding. The caller has found something in a roof space, a bush or a bird box and assumes it must be a wasp nest. Sometimes it is. Sometimes it is a bees’ nest, an abandoned bird’s nest or a clump of old insulation.
The answer to the title question only applies to wasps. They do not return to the same nest, and the colony dies in autumn. If the structure is something else, the story is different, and treating it as a wasp nest could mean disturbing something that should be left alone.
A good habit when you find anything unfamiliar is to take a photograph first, from a distance, and to look at it on a screen. Many people find that they identify the structure at once, simply because they can see it clearly without worrying about the insects.
Do not let the mix-up put you off checking, though. Most old structures found indoors turn out to be what you feared, and a quick look from a safe distance is always worthwhile.
What a wasp nest looks like
A wasp nest is made of a papery material that wasps produce by chewing wood and mixing it with saliva. It is usually grey or buff, and it has a layered, swirled surface rather like a rolled-up sheet. It is round or oval, and it has one small opening, usually at the bottom.
Inside, it contains layers of hexagonal cells. A nest that has been abandoned for months will look dull, a little brittle and often torn at the edges. It can range in size from something the size of a walnut early in the season to a football or larger by late summer.
You will not usually find a wasp nest made of wax, or one with open honey-coloured combs.
One more check: look at where the structure is. Wasps often build inside cavities, but they also hang nests from branches and beams, and sometimes attach them to the underside of a roof tile.
Cells face downward in the layers, and the whole structure hangs from a single point or sits against a surface. If you can see inside through a gap, you may notice flat, stacked tiers with a narrow gap between them.
Signs that it may not be a wasp nest
- A waxy or honey-like smell, or visible wax combs, points to bees
- A large cluster of insects hanging together outdoors may be a swarm of bees, not wasps
- A loose pile of grass, moss and feathers is more likely a bird’s nest
- Insects that are furry and rounded in shape are more likely bees than wasps
Wasps, by contrast, are smooth-bodied, with a narrow waist and bold yellow and black banding. If you cannot tell from a distance, take a photograph rather than going closer.
If you are dealing with a structure that you cannot identify, the safest approach is to leave it be until you know. There is nothing to be gained from poking at an unknown nest, and plenty of potential for a nasty sting.
Remember too that wasps and bees behave differently around a nest. Wasps tend to be quick and direct, flying straight in and out, while bumblebees usually move in a slower, drifting way and may use an old burrow or hollow.
If you think it might be bees
We treat wasps, and we do not deal with honeybees or bumblebees. If you believe you have bees, contact a local beekeeper or the relevant bee organisation. A beekeeper can advise you on what to do.
Do not spray, block or disturb a suspected bee colony while you wait. Keep people and pets away from the area, and keep the exact location in mind so that you can describe it. A clear photograph helps whoever you ask.
Phone a beekeeping contact early in the season, since beekeepers tend to be busy in spring and summer.
Describe what you saw as exactly as you can. The time of day, the colour of the insects and the position of the nest all help the person you contact decide what is going on.
If it is a wasp nest
An empty wasp nest can be taken down once you are sure it is dead, wearing gloves and bagging it. A live one needs a professional, and it should be left alone until then. A threatened colony can swarm and sting.
You can ask the technician at booking whether an empty nest can be taken down. Meanwhile, think about why the nest was there, because the same gap will interest a queen again next spring. In Hempstead as elsewhere, a queen starts a completely new nest each year.
Do not attempt to knock a hanging nest down with a stick or a hose. A live colony will defend itself, and a ladder is the last thing you want to be standing on at that moment.
Next steps and booking
If you have a live wasp nest, we treat it at a fixed price of £120 per nest, with an additional nest on the same property at £60 extra. There is no call-out charge. Technicians are fully insured and qualified, and the visit is one visit guaranteed.
Phone 01622 410 019 or send the online form at /contact-us/. We take domestic and commercial bookings seven days a week, with same-day service and evening and weekend appointments. If anyone at home is allergic to stings, say so when booking.
A photograph sent with an enquiry through the online form can help us understand what you are describing before the visit.
A clear description often tells us whether a visit is needed.
Wasps on your property in Hempstead?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.