How to Tell If You Have an Active Wasp Nest on Your Wincheap Property
A contractor's warning about wasps at your property deserves a calm response: listen, ask where, check it from a distance and keep everyone clear.
The visitor who sees what you cannot
Contractors spend time at heights and in places homeowners rarely go. A roofer can see a gap under the tiles, a window cleaner notices wasps at a frame, and a gardener finds a hole behind a bush. Often they are the first to know about a nest.
If someone working at your home or premises tells you they have seen wasps, take it seriously. They may have been stung already, or may have spotted the signs before the colony becomes a problem.
This guide is for householders and business owners in Wincheap, part of Canterbury, who have received such a report.
The response is a few quick questions, then a distance check.
Window cleaners using water-fed poles can disturb a nest without knowing it. If a cleaner mentions wasps near a window frame, believe them.
It is common for contractors to mention it in passing as they pack up, so ask them to tell you plainly before they leave, and to write down the location if they can.
Questions to ask
Ask the tradesperson for specifics, so you can follow up.
- Where exactly did you see the wasps?
- Was there a gap, hole or nest, and how big?
- How many wasps were there, roughly?
- Were you stung or chased?
- Is the work being done near it still safe?
Write down the answers, because they are the start of your information. Ask them to stop work near the spot if they feel it is unsafe, and not to carry on regardless.
If the tradesperson has a photo, ask them to send it. A picture taken at the time can be more informative than a description, and it shows the location in context.
If you cannot reach the contractor again, check their account against what you can see, and make a note of any difference. The technician will want to know that too.
Pausing the job
Do not let work carry on beside a nest. Ladders, scaffolding, power tools and vibration all increase the risk. A paused job costs a little time, and a sting on a ladder can mean a fall.
Agree with the contractor to complete other parts of the job away from the nest, or to rearrange the visit after treatment. Most professionals understand and prefer a safe site.
If the work is on a roof or high wall, make sure that nobody leans out for a closer look to help you decide.
Scaffolders and roofers often work in teams, so make sure everyone on site knows about the nest. A message to the main contact is usually the best way to ensure it is passed on.
The contractor may offer to knock the nest down for you. Politely decline: it is not a safe job for someone without the right training or protection.
Checking it yourself
Once the contractor has left, or from a safe place away from them, check the report from a distance.
- Stand well back at ground level and look at the area they described.
- Watch for wasps entering and leaving a gap.
- Listen for a hum.
- Look for staining or paper material.
- Repeat on a warm afternoon.
If you see the same thing the tradesperson described, you can regard it as confirmed.
Your distance check might not match the report exactly, especially if the wasps are less active on the day. A nest tucked in under a tile line can be quiet for hours and busy at other times, so be patient.
Remember that a tradesperson might have disturbed the nest with their work, which can make the wasps more active for a while afterwards. Increased activity at the gap in the next day or two is not a surprise.
Tell others who work on site
If other contractors, deliveries or visitors are due, tell them. Window cleaners, gutter cleaners and decorators may be on a schedule and will appreciate a warning. Put a note on the gate or door if you will not be home.
For a business premises, tell your facilities or maintenance staff. A nest near a loading bay or plant area can affect several people.
If the contractor has been stung, they should wash the area, remove the sting if it is visible and use a cold pack. If there is swelling of the face, lips or throat, difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash, call 999.
Gardeners, tree workers and fencing contractors have a particular risk, since they use noisy machines near hedges and banks. Ask them to hold off until the area has been checked.
Arranging treatment
Wasps start building from late April and colonies are largest in August, so a nest found by a contractor is unlikely to disappear. The fee is a fixed £120 per nest, one visit is guaranteed and no call-out charge applies.
A second nest on the same property is £60 extra, and there is no added cost for location or time of day. The business is open seven days a week with same-day service, and its technicians are fully insured and qualified, working for domestic and commercial customers.
Ring 01622 410 019 or fill in the online booking form. Pass on what the tradesperson told you. If anyone at the property is allergic to stings, say so when booking so it can be prioritised.
Ask the technician about the best time for contractors to return, and keep the information in case you need it again next year.
A business with scheduled maintenance visits should add a line to the contractor briefing: report wasps, do not deal with them, and keep staff away from the area.
Wasps on your property in Wincheap?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.