Complete guide to Wasps by pest control specialist

So a wasp nest has settled around your property. What can you do keep those pests under control?

The wasp settles in little crevices around food sources such as ground holes, sheds and other organic matter. Wasp infestations occur every year during the warmer season and this time it just happened to be around your house, shed or other nearby location.

Pests such as wasps are hostile and demonstrate a territorial behaviuor. They control their environment by defending their nests and food sources. Bakeries, restaurants and other food waste contributors create the ideal location for the queen to settle in and start their colony just as well as the compost in your garden!

Can I get rid of the wasp nest myself?

 Although wasps are not known to spread any diseases they are known as a bother and a health threat not just to you but also for your neighbours and other people nearby. If wasps infestation persists in your area their colony will grow and expand their territory in search for additional food sources. As wasps use gaps, openings and cracks in various buildings it can be very difficult and dangerous to control jaspers and, and those pests will become hostile if you disturb their nests.

  Using commercially available products for wasp control without the protective equipment and the pest infestation knowledge will make it easy for the survivor wasps to relocate to a new location or persist and infest the area again in the near future. 

Health Risks


  Wasps often appear in the summer during the warmer season and can lead to life-threatening stings for people with allergies. Even especially during a mass attack of the wasps. The possible side effects include breathing difficulties, skin rashes, dizziness and a red spot where the wasp injects the venom. Despite the fact that a single sting does not usually lead to a serious health situation, a mass attack by the colony can lead to critical health conditions. 

Youngers are affected more often due to their tendency to get startled and panic at the sight of wasps, often becoming their victims. As wasps are active during the daytime, pest control specialist track their movement to locate the nests, estimate its size and devise a plan of action for efficient wasp removal. 

   

FAQ

Can I get rid of the beehive myself?

By attempting to remove the wasp nest alone you put yourself and your neighbourhood at risk. It is not as simple as using a smoke machine to lure bees out; doing so will only agitate the wasp. The wasps will become hostile and scatter. If the nest is destroyed the queen wasp will relocate and build a new colony nearby, so it’s advisable to hire a wasp control and pest infestation professional to reduce the risk of pests appearing again.

How long does it take for wasp nest fully develop?

There are multiple species of wasps with various life cycles, but there are a few common truths about all wasp nests. The hives life cycle is only one year which starts when the fertilized wasp queen creates the first layer of the nest. Each day the queen can lay between 200-300 larvae in the most optimal conditions for 24 consecutive days. Worker wasps seek nutrition for the colony, build the nest and protect against predators. With an average hive size of 30 wasp, the queen job continuously produces eggs to replace dying off wasp and create more future queens for future colonies.

The wasp queens wake up in around April in the UK and colony’s grow throughout the summer until early October where future queens begin to hibernate and get fertilised by the male workers before they die off in the winter harsh conditions.

How big can the nests grow?

The size of the nest can grow between a tennis ball to a basketball depending on the climate and availability of food sources. There are a lot of factors involved in the nests’ size but the UK common wasp (Vespula Vulgaris, a.k.a. Jasper) has between 3000 to 8000 larvae that can become fully grown wasps unless gotten rid of with a wasp control specialist.

How dangerous are wasps?

The biggest concern with wasps is their stings. They can sting multiple times before dying off (unlike bees) and the poison in their venom stays between 3-4 days in the affected area. Unless you are attempting to remove a nest yourself, there is generally no cause for worrying about the side effects of a single sting unless you have developed signs of an allergic reaction.

After the initial wasp sting the most common signs of an allergy are shallow breath, excessive redness around the sting, nausea and vomiting. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, call a medical professional immediately.

Is it worth having my child tested for wasp allergy?

Absolutely. If your child is playing in the playground or back garden you want to have that peace of mind. Protecting yourself against wasp and pest attacks is one of the best ways of wasp control. Knowing that your loved ones are allergic can help you prepare for the possible eventuality of a wasp sting.

Fortunately, there are anti-sting kits you can obtain that contain epinephrine injections which reduce the swelling and helps the body return to neutral conditions. You can find more about them on the official NHS Insect bites and stings website.

How can I protect myself from wasp attacks?

Don’t panic and remain still.
If you choose to escape, do it steadily in a straight direction, control your movement to appear indifferent to the wasp. Don’t make jerky movements as this can turn the wasp hostile; it’s trying to judge you if you are a threat, food source or part of the incomprehensible world outside of wasp understanding.

How to keep wasps away?

Avoid strong floral perfumes, scents or bright clothing to avoid wasp mistaking you with food sources (flowers and biodegradables)
Take care of your sugary drinks when drinking outside. Use a lid on your water and food containers and check any cups that have been left exposed for floating insects in your drink.
You may also choose to track the path of the worker wasps to find the location of their nest; they are likely to go back and forth between known food source locations, making it manageable to track them down by a wasp control professional.

What’s the life cycle of the wasp?

During winter the queen wasp has closed herself in last year’s nest, or made her own golf ball sized cocoon that male wasps fertilize before their yearly extinction.
Each year the queens are born and abandon their old nest in search for a new location to start their colony. Once settled the queen begins to build the nest and lay her eggs to create sterile females or male workers.
The colony’s life cycle lasts a year, where female workers begin to hibernate for the winter and male workers die off having fertilized the future queens.

Can I leave wasps nest alone?

Leaving the wasps to develop their colony and spread is a bad idea. As territorial pests, they hunt down other useful insects and are a nuisance to every day outside life.
Wasps will generally not attack you unless you get too close to their territory or food source.
To prevent future wasp infestation we recommend you consult one of our pest control specialists to terminate and remove these aggressive pests.

When is the right time for pest control?

The peak time for wasp control is late summer/early autumn. During this time most of the hives reach their peak capacity and wasps begin to expand their territory looking for additional food sources for the queen. Wasp pest control is recommended when you begin to spot wasps more frequently around your area.

What is the cost of wasps control and and bumble bee removal?