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When Is Wasp Season in Barrow Hill?
If you have never thought about wasps before, here are the basic questions answered in order, from when the season starts to how to get a nest treated.
Starting from scratch
If you are new to the subject, or you have just moved into a property in Barrow Hill and are wondering what to expect, this guide covers the basics in the order in which questions usually arise. It avoids jargon and keeps to what matters.
You do not need any prior knowledge. Read through once, keep the key points in mind, and use the checklist at the end of the page whenever you spot something unusual.
When does wasp season start?
Wasps start building nests from late April, depending on the weather. A mild spring can bring things forward, and a cold one can hold them back. The first nests are small, and you may see only a few wasps. They build in gaps in eaves, walls, chimneys, trees, bushes and holes in the ground.
In practice this means that from the end of April it is worth glancing at the outside of your property now and then. You are looking for a wasp that goes repeatedly into the same gap.
Early spring is the best time to deal with a nest because the colony is small and the risk is lowest. If you can, make a diary note for the last week of April to walk round the outside of your home and garden.
Anything you notice in those first weeks is worth writing down, even if it turns out to be nothing. A short list of dates and places is a very good starting point.
When is it at its worst?
The colony grows through the summer and peaks in August. A nest can hold from 2,000 to 10,000 or more wasps at that point, and a disturbed nest can swarm and sting. That is why people remember August as the wasp month.
Late in the summer, wasps also seem to look for sweet food and drink. That is when they turn up at picnics, bins and drinks cans. Numbers then decline through the autumn.
If you want a rough idea of the timeline, picture a curve that rises slowly through May, climbs steeply through June and July, peaks in August, and then falls away through September and October. The exact dates move with the weather, but the shape does not.
Finally, if there is a chance you have misjudged, err on the side of asking. A short call about something that turns out to be a passing wasp costs nothing, while a missed nest costs a summer.
What should I look for?
The clearest sign of a nest is a line of wasps going to and from one spot. Other signs include a hole in the ground with insects flying in and out, grey papery material around a gap, a faint buzzing inside a wall or loft, and wasps appearing indoors in a certain room.
- Watch the roofline and chimneys from a distance.
- Look at sheds, garages and hedges.
- Check the lawn and banks for holes.
- Listen for buzzing from walls or ceilings.
If you are renting, a nest in the roof or walls is something to report to the person who manages the property. The tenancy agreement will say who arranges and pays for pest treatment, so check it. Do not delay the report while you work out the answer.
Take photographs from a safe distance if you can. A picture of the spot where wasps are going in and out is easier to describe than a memory, and it helps the person you speak to understand what you have seen.
What should I not do?
Do not go near a live nest. Do not poke it, spray it, block the entrance or try to knock it down. Do not climb a ladder to look closer. Do not burn or flood it. Wasps that feel threatened can swarm and sting, and blocking an entrance can send them into the house.
If you are stung, wash the area, remove the sting if you can see it and apply a cold pack. If someone develops swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash, call 999. Anyone with a known allergy should speak to their GP.
Keep children and pets indoors or away from the area if you suspect a nest. Teach them not to poke at holes or run at wasps, and show them how to walk away calmly.
Do not be embarrassed about asking. The business deals with wasp nests all summer, and it is normal to ring with a half-formed question such as whether something is a nest at all.
When should I get help?
As soon as you are fairly sure there is a nest. Early spring is the best time to deal with a nest because it is small. If you rent, tell your landlord or agent, and check your tenancy agreement for who arranges treatment. If you are unsure whether it is a nest, describe what you see when you ring.
When you phone, expect simple questions: where is it, how high, how long have you seen it, and is anyone allergic to stings? You do not need technical words. Describe what you see in your own words.
Wasp Nest Removal Essex treats a nest for a fixed £90 per nest, and the price graphic promises one visit guaranteed, while a second nest at the same address adds £35 more. The firm works on both domestic and commercial premises, the work is fully insured, and bookings are taken seven days a week with same-day service offered.
You can ring 01245 327274 or fill in the online booking form on the contact page. When you book, find out whether the technician can take the empty nest down.
Wasps on your property in Barrow Hill?
Fixed price £90 per nest, same-day service available.