Why Are Wasps Flying Into Your Upnor Home? Common Causes and Solutions
Outbuildings are quiet, undisturbed and full of hiding places, so wasps often nest in them and then drift towards the nearest open door of the house.
The nest you do not walk past
A shed, garage, summerhouse or log store is a gift to a queen looking for a place to start a nest. It is dry, undisturbed and full of sheltered corners. By the time wasps are noticed in the house, the nest may have been growing out of sight for weeks.
Wasps from an outbuilding follow the same routes as any others, and the nearest open door or window is often the one into your home. In Upnor, as anywhere, the connection between the shed at the end of the garden and wasps in the kitchen is easy to miss.
Look at the pattern of the weather too. In warm spells, wasps leave and return more often, so activity at an outbuilding can seem to ramp up quickly. A quiet shed in May can look very different by late July, and the nest itself is already well established by then.
Spotting the signs from a distance
Before you open any outbuilding door, stand back and watch it for a few minutes. Look for:
- Wasps going into or out of gaps beneath the roof or around the door.
- A small hole in a wooden wall, with wasps coming and going.
- A faint humming or rasping from inside.
- Wasps crawling over window glass from the inside.
- A papery, grey patch in a corner seen through a window.
If you see any of these, do not enter. Make sure children and pets stay away. Mark the shed as off limits and tell everyone in the household.
Do not rely on a quick look through the keyhole or a crack in the door. A wasp at the door glass, or one that flies out when you open it, is a sign that the inside is busy. If a wasp does come out as you open, step back, leave the door and walk away slowly.
What stored items attract wasps
Outbuildings often hold things that draw wasps, even without a nest. Open bags of pet feed, bird seed, old jars of jam and cans of drink in a fridge or cupboard all give off scent. A damp, dusty store of fruit, apples or compost can be attractive too.
Clear and seal anything sweet or meaty, but only after you are sure there is no activity. Cardboard boxes, old furniture and rolled carpets give nests extra places to hide, so tidying a shed in winter, when there is no activity, is a good habit.
If you must get something from the shed, ask yourself whether it can wait for a few days. Garden tools and bikes can generally do without you for a little while. A short delay is far better than a swarm of angry wasps in a confined space.
Why the house gets visitors
A colony needs a continuous supply of food and water, and the foragers cover a wide area. When the nearest large source of food is your kitchen or patio, they will find it. A nest in the shed can keep sending wasps across the garden all day, and each trip ends in the same place: the open door.
Wasps begin building nests from late April depending on the weather, and by August the colony may hold from 2,000 to 10,000 or more. If the sightings in the house rise through the summer, the shed may be the source.
There is also the matter of moisture. A leaking roof or a damp corner in an outbuilding can attract insects of all sorts, and wasps will use any dry crevice nearby. Fixing leaks and gaps once the nest is dealt with helps prevent a repeat next year.
What to do, and what not to do
- Keep away from the outbuilding and its door.
- Do not spray, bang or block the entrance.
- Keep food covered in the house and take the bins out.
- Close windows nearest the shed during the day.
- Keep pets inside while you wait for the visit.
If anyone is stung, wash the area, remove the sting if visible and use a cold pack. Call 999 if there is swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing, difficulty breathing, dizziness or a spreading rash. Anyone allergic should speak to their GP.
Take a photograph of the outbuilding from a safe distance and make a note of where the wasps seem to enter. This is a good thing to hand to the technician when they arrive, and it will save time.
If you need to keep a path to the shed clear, use another route to reach it or close it off with a chair or a bin. Tell visitors, delivery drivers and neighbours’ children that the area is off limits for a few days. A clear plan is better than an accident.
Arranging treatment
Wasp Exterminator Kent treats nests in houses, sheds, trees and the ground alike. The price is a fixed £120 per nest, with one visit guaranteed, and an extra nest on the same property is £60 each. There is no call-out charge and no change for location or time. Technicians are fully insured and qualified, and they work seven days a week for domestic and commercial customers.
Call 01622 410 019 or use the online form on the contact page. Same-day service is on offer. Tell us if anyone is allergic, describe where the outbuilding sits in relation to your house, and ask whether the empty nest can be taken down afterwards.
If the outbuilding belongs to a business, such as a workshop or a store, say so when you book. Domestic and commercial sites are both covered, and the technician can then plan for access and staff safety.
Wasps on your property in Upnor?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.