Wasps Around Your Guttering and Fascias? How to Find the Nest in Sissinghurst
A cluster of wasps at an upstairs window directly beneath the eaves is often a sign of a nest just above it, because the window sits close to the entrance.
Windows beneath the eaves
In many houses, upstairs windows sit just below the roof edge, only a short distance from the fascia and soffit. A nest in the cavity above the window can have its entrance very close to the glass. Wasps leaving the nest may drift down and bump against the pane, or even find their way in if the window is open.
People often notice the problem from inside. A few wasps at the glass, a buzz that seems to come from the ceiling, or a wasp on the sill in the morning can be the first clues. Linking those to the roof edge outside is the next step.
Windows also let in warmth and light, and wasps are drawn to both. An upstairs window that catches the morning sun can become a gathering point for insects that have come out of the roof edge and are heading for the brightest spot. That is why a clutch of wasps at the glass can mean a nest within a metre or two.
Checking from outside, safely
Go outside and stand well back from the wall, in line with the window. Look up at the fascia and soffit above it. Watch for wasps entering a gap within a metre or so of the window frame.
- A gap above the window head where the soffit meets the wall.
- A hole at the end of the fascia board nearest the window.
- Wasps landing on the window frame and walking upward.
- Wasps hovering at the sill, then flying up to the roof edge.
- A dark stain on the wall above the window.
Stay on the ground, and keep your eyes on the area for several minutes. If wasps vanish in the gap above, you have found the likely entrance.
Notice whether the wasps at the window are alive and moving, or lying dead on the sill. A scattering of dead wasps on the inside sill suggests that some are getting in through a gap rather than through the open window, and that is worth telling the technician.
If you are not sure which window the wasps are using, note how the roof edge is laid out above the row of windows. Standing back far enough to see the whole wall makes it easier to work out whether the gap is above one window or between two.
Managing the room meanwhile
Keep the window shut, and the curtains drawn if wasps are collecting at the glass. Do not open the window to let them out when many are there, because opening a window can allow more in. Close the room door to stop wasps wandering into the rest of the house.
Avoid using the room for sleeping if you can hear activity in the wall or ceiling at night, and keep lights off near the window in the evening to avoid attracting insects. If one gets inside, a glass and a card can transfer it outside once it has calmed down.
If a wasp is on the inside of the glass, avoid the urge to bat it. Wasps often settle once they have found the light, and a gentle approach with a glass and a piece of card will take it out. Never press down on a wasp with a hand or cloth.
Why you should not open the window and look
It is tempting to lean out to see the nest. Please do not. You would be reaching toward the entrance at head height, with a drop beneath you, and any wasp that comes out is at close range. A fall from an upstairs window is far worse than a sting.
Leave the window closed and rely on photographs taken from the ground. If you cannot see well, say so to the office, and describe what is above the window and how far the gap seems from the frame.
Check also that the window frame itself is sound. Cracked sealant around the frame, a gap beneath the sill or a loose trim can all provide a route from the cavity into the room. A handyman can deal with these once the nest is inactive.
In a bedroom, think about the bed and the bedside lamp. Moving the bed away from the affected wall for a few nights is a small thing that can make the room more restful, and it keeps you from being close to any wasp that finds its way in during the night.
What happens after the call
Treatment is a fixed £120 per nest, with no call-out charge, and one visit guaranteed, as the price graphic says. A further nest on the property costs £60 more. The technician is fully insured and qualified and brings suitable equipment to reach the roof edge.
Afterwards, have the gap sealed and check the window frame and seal for any cracks. Ask whether the empty nest can be taken down, and plan the repair when the colony is confirmed inactive.
For a second-floor window, the gap above it may be quite high. The technician will work out the best way to reach it, which may involve equipment you do not have, so do not worry about this part of the job.
Booking in Sissinghurst
Ring 01622 410 019 or send a request through the contact page form. The business is open seven days a week, with same-day service and evening and weekend appointments, for homes and commercial premises.
Say which room the window belongs to and whether anyone sleeps there, and mention any sting allergy so the visit can be prioritised.
If you can see the soffit from an upstairs window of a neighbouring room, take care not to open it. A closed window and a zoomed photo are safer than leaning out.
Wasps on your property in Sissinghurst?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.