Found a Wasp Nest? What to Do and What Not to Do

A steady line of wasps flying in and out of one spot on your roof, shed or wall is the classic sign of a nest. Your first instinct might be to knock it down or block the hole. Do not.

A disturbed nest can release dozens or hundreds of angry wasps within seconds. Here is the calm, sensible way to deal with a nest you have just found.

Stop and keep your distance

Move away quietly and do not poke, spray, hose, knock or block the nest or its entrance. Vibration, smoke and sudden movement all make wasps defensive.

Keep children and pets well away from the area, and warn anyone who might walk past, mow the lawn or hang washing nearby.

If you have a doorway or window close to the flight path, keep it closed in the meantime and use another entrance where you can. A nest that is busy in the afternoon may seem quiet in the early morning, but that does not mean it is safe to approach.

Check that it really is wasps

Wasps have slim, smooth, yellow and black bodies with a narrow waist. Honey bees and bumblebees are furrier and rounder. Bees are not pests to be killed, so if you think you have a honey bee swarm or a bumblebee nest, contact a local beekeeper or follow bee guidance instead.

Watch from a distance, such as from a window, and note where the insects enter and leave, roughly how busy it is and what time of day it is most active.

A quick way to separate wasps from other insects is to watch what is carried: wasps carrying little but flying in a purposeful straight line to one gap are usually heading home to a nest.

Things not to do

Every year people are stung because they tried to deal with a nest themselves. Avoid these mistakes.

Videos online make nest removal look easy. It is not. The people who get stung worst are usually the ones who thought they could handle it with a ladder and a can from the shop.

• Do not block the entrance; trapped wasps may chew through plaster or find a way into the house
• Do not use ladders near a nest
• Do not spray anything into a hole or hit the nest with water
• Do not use smoke or fire
• Do not stand directly in the flight path

If someone is stung

Move away from the nest and wash the area. Cold packs can ease pain and swelling. If a person has trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, dizziness or widespread rash after a sting, call 999 immediately.

For milder reactions or any health worries, speak to a pharmacist or your GP. People with known allergies should always take extra care around nests.

Remove clothing near the sting if swelling develops, and avoid scratching, which can lead to infection. Keep an eye on the person for a while afterwards, particularly children.

Getting it dealt with

A professional can identify the species, assess how accessible the nest is and treat it safely with the right equipment and protective clothing. Nests in roof spaces, cavity walls and airbricks often need more than a simple treatment.

Essex Pest Solutions treats wasp nests at homes and businesses across Essex. Take a note of the nest location and how busy it is before you call, and do not try to remove it first.

Tell the technician about any family member who is allergic, any pets that use the garden and how the nest is reached, so that the visit can be planned properly.

Frequently asked questions