Wasp Prevention

Posted on May 19, 2016 in Pest

Wasp Prevention Tips

Wasp

Wasps are most active in the warm summer months. In the UK, the Common Wasp and German Wasp cause the most annoyance and painful stings. Even with their special yellow and black body, they can still be confused with hornets, although hornets are not as common in this country, they can still bite and sting you.

Honey Bee

Wasps can also be confused with bees, in particular Honey Bees – however these vary in colour from golden brown to almost black and are furrier than wasps. If you suspect you have Honey Bees, visit the British Bee Keepers Association find a swarm collector site, to find a bee keeper local to you.

Only female wasps have a sting which they can use repeatedly, if they feel under threat. In most cases a wasp sting causes no long term harm, but it can be life threatening if you are allergic to stings. Treating a wasp nest is often the most efficient way to control a wasp problem and reduce the threat of stings.

Wasps can build nests outdoors under eaves or, if they can gain access, they can find sheltered areas inside your home, such as wall cavities, roof spaces and attics.  If a nest is discovered in early spring, removal using DIY products may be possible but the danger from stings will remain.

Wasps have the potential to attack in large numbers if their nest is disturbed.

It is best to treat a nest earlier in the year before numbers increase and the wasps become more aggressive, increasing the threat of stings during treatment.

How to Prevent Wasps

Prevention is key if you want to avoid problems with wasps, especially during the summer months when they are most active.

It is always easier to prevent a problem before it happens, rather than to wait for wasps to invade your home or garden. The fear of a wasp sting can be so great that it can prevent some people from going outdoors.

Wasp Prevention Tips

Early treatment of a wasp nest will help to keep you and your family safe from painful stings.

Making changes to your behaviour and how you handle food and drink outdoors can also help to deter this stinging pest.

Wasp Nest

Check for nests – Check your home and garden in early spring for nests, early on they will be walnut or golf ball in size – early small nests have fewer wasps and are easier to treat quickly. Look for nests in lofts, garages, sheds, cavity walls or under eaves.

Secure bins – Ensure outside bins have tightly fitting lids. Keep bins at a distance from doors and windows so wasps are not attracted to the contents.

Keep windows and doors shut – To prevent wasps entering inside your home.

Keep safe – If you have spotted a nest, make sure you keep children and pets away from the area.

Using DIY products

If you already have a problem with wasps, there are some DIY products available, including wasp repellents, which may offer some relief.

• Wait until late evening or night time, when worker and scout wasps have returned to the nest.
• Always wear protective clothing, goggles, gloves and dust mask when dealing with a wasps nest, however small it maybe.
• Use a DIY spray specifically designed for treating wasp nests, such as Rentokil wasp nest destroyer foam.
• Carefully read and follow the instructions on the spray can, ensuring you do not stand directly under the nest.
• Once sprayed leave the nest for a minimum of 24 hours before careful removal – a wasp nest can be very fragile.
• Seal the nest in two thick plastic bags (double bagged) and dispose of it in an outside rubbish bin with a secure lid.

A wasp nest should not be removed directly after being professionally treated with insecticide. It can take several days for foraging worker wasps to return to the nest.

As wasps return and enter the nest they will also be contaminated by the treatment and die off, thus ensuring the whole colony is effectively treated.

You should never try to treat a nest on your own, or if you think you are allergic to insect stings.

Preventing Wasp Problems

Although high numbers of wasps in your home or garden almost certainly means there is a nest nearby, removing a wasp nest may not always be a possible solution.

If the nest is not on your property, you will have very limited control on what you can do to remove it.

Nests located in confined, hard-to-reach areas (such as cavity walls) will also be more difficult to treat.

Need a professional solution?

For peace of mind and to be completely safe from stings, it is safer to let a professional Protech Pest Solutions technician treat the nest for you.

For more advice or to book an engineer please Call 0845 604 1288 and speak with one of our friendly team or for more information on our pest control service please visit Protech Pest Solutions.