How To Tackle Wasps On Your Property

If you've noticed a large number of wasps buzzing around your garden or invading your home, you probably have an active nest nearby.  Wasps don't make good neighbours; they're aggressive and can deliver a painful sting if you get too close to their nest.  So, how do you get rid of them? 

Where to find wasp nests

Wasps begin building their nests in late spring.  The nests are constructed from cardboard, paper and wood mixed with the wasps' saliva.  Common nesting sites are under house eaves, in loft spaces, inside breezeblock brickwork, in trees and hedges or even underground.  Once it's fully established a nest typically contains thousands of wasps and you'll easily spot them coming and going throughout the day.

If the nest is situated a good distance from your home in an area that can be avoided during the summer, it's safest to leave it alone.  At the end of the summer, the wasp colony will simply abandon the nest.  Wasps don't use the same nest each year and won't come back, but you could knock it down with a long-handled broom to get rid of it, just to be on the safe side. 

However, if the nest is in a place where it could pose a risk to your family, you'll need to get rid of its occupants.  If you have an allergic reaction to wasp stings (anaphylaxis), don't tackle the job yourself; contact a professional pest control company to do it for you.

How to get rid of a wasp nest

Preparation

1. Before you start, make sure that you and anyone helping you are wearing suitable clothing; long sleeves, long trousers, a bandana over your face and goggles to protect your eyes.   
2. If you need to climb a ladder to access the nest, ask a helper to foot it for you.   
3. Make sure all pets and children are safely inside the house before you start.  
4. Always use a good quality, proprietary insecticide powder.  You can obtain this from a good DIY store, or ask your local pest control company.

Tackling wasp nests

1. The best time to do this job is at night when the wasps have returned to the nest and are inactive.  However, avoid shining a bright torch directly into the nest as this can just serve to attract the wasps!  
2. If the nest is in a bush or tree, watch the wasps to see where they enter and exit the nest.  Give these routes a thorough dusting with powder, standing well back as you do so.  
3. Underground nests and those hidden in air bricks can be dealt with by simply puffing the insecticide powder into the entry hole.  Don't block the holes up as you want to make sure you catch all the wasps that are returning to the nest as well as those trapped inside it.  
4. If the wasp nest is in the eaves of your house, the easiest tactic is to treat it from the inside via the roof space.  Give the entry and exit hole a really good dusting with insecticide powder and then retreat, making sure you close the loft hatch firmly behind you.   
5. Once the 'queen' wasp is dead, any survivors will abandon the colony.  Allow 24 hours for the powder to take effect and only remove the nest when all wasp activity around it has ceased. 

If the wasp nest is situated out of easy reach or at considerable height, always call out a professional pest control company, such as Promaster Group, to deal with it for you.  Keep an eye out for increased wasp activity during the spring and remove any nests while they're still small and easier to deal with.