When Is Wasp Season in Westbere?
A sting is most likely when the colony is at its largest, but it can happen at any point from spring, and a calm routine makes it much less alarming.
Stings and the seasonal pattern
Most wasp stings happen in the late part of the summer, when there are more wasps around and they are most interested in sweet food and drink. But they can happen from spring, when someone disturbs a new nest, and into autumn, when the colony is still active.
Wasps get to work on their nests from late April, depending on the weather. The colony grows through the summer and peaks in August, with a nest holding from 2,000 to 10,000 or more wasps. A person in Westbere, or anywhere else, who understands the pattern can see when the risk is greatest and plan.
This article covers basic general safety, not medical advice. If you have concerns about your own health or allergies, speak to your GP.
Wasps rarely sting without a reason. Most stings follow a disturbance, a squashed insect, a hand in a can or a barefoot step onto a fallen fruit, so most can be prevented with a little care.
Spring and early summer: the surprise sting
In April, May and June, most stings are accidental. Someone mows over a hole, brushes a shrub, moves a stored box in the shed, or opens a window near a nest. The wasps involved are defending a small, new nest.
These stings are usually isolated. They are, however, a sign that a nest is close. If you are stung in the garden in spring, move away calmly, look back from a distance for a flight path, and make a note of the place.
Early spring is the best time to deal with nests, so a sting that shows you where one is has done you an unwelcome favour. Contact the team before the nest grows.
Think about footwear and clothing in spring. Sturdy shoes and long sleeves offer limited protection, but they can give you the extra second to retreat.
If you are stung while working near a hedge or shed, mark the spot and stay away from it, because wasps that have just defended a nest are likely to do so again.
What to do straight after a sting
Having a routine in your head makes everything calmer.
- Move away from the area, walking slowly. Take children and pets with you.
- Wash the sting site with water.
- Look for a sting left in the skin, and remove it if you can see it.
- Apply a cold pack or something cold wrapped in a cloth.
- Watch the person for a while afterwards.
Most stings are painful and swell a little, and settle. Do not scratch. Keep an eye on how the person looks and feels, particularly in the first period afterwards.
Do not use home remedies that involve putting anything inside the skin or on a swelling, and do not try to burst a blister. Keep it clean and cool.
Do not apply anything to the sting site that you have not been advised to use, and do not squeeze the skin around it. Cool, clean and calm is the right approach for most stings.
Signs you must not ignore
Call 999 immediately if you see any sign of a serious allergic reaction. These include:
- Swelling of the face, lips or throat.
- Wheezing or difficulty breathing.
- Dizziness or feeling faint.
- A widespread rash.
Do not wait to see whether it improves. People who know they are allergic should speak to their GP about their own plan. This article does not cover medicines or doses, and nobody should guess about them.
If anyone in your household is allergic, tell the team when booking a nest treatment. It allows the booking to be prioritised, and early action is the best protection.
If a sting is inside the mouth or throat, which can happen if a wasp is in a can or glass, treat it as an emergency and call 999 straight away.
August and the late-summer stretch
At the peak, and in the weeks after it, the number of wasps is at its highest, and stings are most common. Wasps at tables, bins and fruit trees are often not defending a nest, but looking for food, and they sting when squashed or trapped.
- Check cups and cans before drinking.
- Do not swat. Move slowly away.
- Wear shoes on grass, and be careful with fallen fruit.
- Keep food covered and bins closed.
- Keep away from the nest. Wasps can swarm and sting if threatened.
Autumn brings a decline, but stings can still occur from an active nest, so the same caution applies.
Children are stung more often because they run and flap. Show them how to stand still and walk away, and make that a household habit before the summer.
Watch for stings in unusual places, such as the mouth or throat, the ear or the eye. Those need urgent attention, and anyone stung there should get help straight away.
Getting the source dealt with
The best way to prevent stings is to treat the nest. One nest costs a fixed £120 with one visit guaranteed, and a further nest at the same property is charged at £60 each. There is no call-out charge and the price does not change with the time of day.
Every day of the week is covered, and both same-day service and evening and weekend appointments are available. Technicians are fully insured and qualified, and cover homes and commercial premises. Pick up the phone and ring 01622 410 019, or use the booking form if you would rather not talk. Customers can use the online form to ask for emergency service out of normal office hours.
If the sting happened near a nest, tell the technician where it occurred. It helps them understand how the wasps are moving around the property.
Wasps on your property in Westbere?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.