Can You Remove a Wasp Nest Yourself? Advice for Wittersham Homeowners
By August the colony is at its largest and its most defensive, so the nest you find on a late-summer morning is the hardest one to tackle on your own.
The nest you notice in August
Many nests go unnoticed until late summer. They begin in late April, depending on the weather, and for weeks the only sign is a few wasps coming and going. By August, the colony peaks and can hold anywhere from 2,000 to 10,000 or more wasps. The traffic at the entrance becomes obvious, wasps hang around bins and picnics, and suddenly the nest cannot be missed.
This is also the point at which householders start asking whether they can do it themselves. Wittersham homes, like others, find themselves with a nest that looks well established and a long list of things to do in the garden. The temptation is to get it over with.
Late summer is the worst time for a DIY attempt. The colony is as large as it will ever be, the workers are many and the nest is well defended. What might have been a small, quiet nest in June is now a busy one with thousands of wasps ready to respond to any disturbance.
A common error is to think that because the nest has survived this long without incident, it is harmless. That is a bit like saying a fire that has not yet spread is under control. The only reason it has not troubled you is that nobody has gone close to it.
Why the size changes the risk
The more wasps a nest holds, the more of them respond when something goes wrong. A small nest might send out a handful of guard wasps. A peak nest can send out a crowd. Each wasp can sting more than once, and a person who is stung many times in a short while is in a very different situation from one who gets a single sting.
Also consider the traffic. In late summer the nest entrance can be a busy highway, with wasps constantly arriving and leaving. A person standing near it is almost certain to be noticed.
The nest is also likely to have grown larger than it appears. The part you can see may be the entrance and an outer layer, with the main body in a cavity or inside a wall. Do not judge the size of a colony by the hole.
A few practical consequences follow:
- Keep further away than you would earlier in the season.
- Do not rely on a quiet morning. Even cool hours see activity.
- Do not assume that a nest which has been there for weeks is harmless.
It also pays to remember how different wasps are in August from the ones you saw in spring. Workers are older, the nest has lots of them, and the colony devotes more energy to food that is sweet. If you find yourself batting wasps away from a drink, you are meeting the same insects that are guarding the nest.
Why wasps seem worse in late summer
Householders often notice that wasps become a nuisance in August. They appear at outdoor tables, in open cans of drink and around bins, and they seem more irritable. That is a good reason to watch food and drink outside, because anything sweet draws them.
It does not mean the nest has suddenly become dangerous. It was always a risk. You are simply noticing it more, because the numbers are higher and the wasps are out in search of food.
In this period:
- Keep food and drinks covered, and check cans and glasses before drinking.
- Clear plates and spills quickly, and wipe sticky surfaces.
- Keep bins closed and away from seating.
- Do not wave or swat at wasps, since that tends to make them more defensive.
- Take care when picking fallen fruit, which attracts them.
Take care with fallen fruit, windfalls and rubbish too. A pile of apples under a tree can hold dozens of wasps at once, and walking through them barefoot is a good way to be stung. Pick up fruit early in the day with shoes on, or leave it until the technician has been.
First aid and allergy
Stings are more likely in late summer, with high numbers and busy foraging. If someone is stung, wash the area, remove the sting if you can see it, and apply a cold pack.
Ring 999 immediately for a widespread rash, wheezing or difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips or throat or dizziness. Such symptoms can mean a serious allergic reaction.
Anyone who knows they have an allergy should speak to their GP, ideally before summer. If anyone in your household is allergic, say so when you book so the booking can be prioritised.
Keep children and pets away from the nest, and bring washing in from lines that sit close to it.
It is not too late to book
Booking late in the season is fine. You pay £120 per nest to Wasp Exterminator Kent, which includes one guaranteed visit. A second nest on the same property costs £60 for that nest. You will not be charged for the call-out, and the price is the same wherever the nest is. Technicians are fully insured and qualified.
Domestic and commercial customers are served seven days a week, and same-day service is offered, with evening and weekend slots too. You can reach the team on 01622 410 019, or send a booking through the contact page form. Emergency service outside office hours is available through the form.
Tell the team how long you have noticed the nest and how busy it is. At the time of booking, ask if the empty nest can be taken down once it has been treated.
If you are comparing your options, remember that the price does not change because it is late in the year. The team deals with a nest at its peak in the same fixed way as one in May.
Wasps on your property in Wittersham?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.