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When Is Wasp Season in Chipping Ongar?
June finds many people with a small but growing nest and a decision to make, and the calendar explains why acting now beats waiting.
The June discovery
June is a common time to find a nest. The weather is warm, the windows are open, and you are outdoors more. Maybe you saw wasps disappearing into a gap under the roof, or noticed a hole in the lawn with a steady stream of insects. What matters is that you are now at the middle of the wasp calendar, and what you do over the next fortnight determines how awkward the summer becomes.
Many people hope that the wasps will go away on their own. In practice a nest keeps growing through summer, and by the time you realise the problem is not going away it has become much bigger. The sections below take you through the first few days.
Where the colony is now
Wasps start building from late April, so by June the nest has had around six weeks. It is still growing. In the next two months it will expand sharply and peak in August, at which point it can hold from 2,000 to 10,000 or more wasps. A June nest is smaller than it will become, but it can already sting if threatened.
So you have found it at a good time. It is not yet at its largest, and acting now is easier than acting in August.
It helps to understand why a June nest behaves as it does. Workers are now doing most of the building and feeding, and the colony is adding to the nest daily. It will not stop until later in the season, so the hope that it will stay small is unrealistic.
Also consider how the nest relates to your daily routine. A nest above a front door, beside a washing line or near a play area will cause problems whatever its size. A nest at the far end of the garden may be easier to live with for a short time, though it still needs treating.
Step one: keep away and keep others away
Do not go nearer to take a better look. Mark the location from a distance and tell everyone in the household. Move children's toys, pets' bowls and garden furniture away from the area. If the nest is near a door or window, keep that door or window closed.
- Do not poke, spray, flood or block the entrance.
- Do not use a ladder to look closer.
- Do not mow or strim near the spot.
Think about windows too. If wasps are getting into the house, check where they enter. A nest in the roof space or wall cavity may have an inner route to a room. Close the door of that room, and do not try to seal gaps or swat wasps in numbers.
If you are stung, wash the area, remove the sting if visible and apply a cold pack. A swollen face, lips or throat, wheezing, difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash all call for a 999 call.
Step two: gather the details
Before you book, spend a few minutes noting what you know. Where is the entrance: roof edge, wall, shed, tree or ground? How high is it? How many wasps pass in a minute? When did you first notice them? Is anyone in the household allergic to stings?
A photograph taken from a safe distance with a phone is helpful. If the nest is on a rented or managed property, tell the person responsible; whether they or you arrange and pay for treatment depends on your agreement, so check it.
If you have a business, tell staff and decide whether customers or deliveries need to avoid the area. A small sign or cone is often enough. Keep the notice calm and factual.
When you ring, the person taking your booking will want to know about access. Is there a side gate, a locked yard or a key holder? A short description saves time on the day.
Step three: book the treatment
Wasp Nest Removal Essex treats a nest for a fixed £90 per nest, with one visit guaranteed. An additional nest on the same property is £35 more. The business serves domestic and commercial customers, is fully insured, and is open seven days a week, with same-day service offered.
After booking, resist the urge to inspect the nest to see whether it has grown. Watching from a safe distance at a window is fine, but leave it at that. The technician will assess the nest when they arrive.
Step four: the weeks afterwards
After treatment, stay away from the spot until the technician says it is safe. You may see a few stray wasps for a short time. Keep an eye on the property for further activity over the summer, since another nest may start elsewhere.
Think about why the nest was there. A gap that you can safely fill, or a pile of material you can clear, makes it less likely to happen again. Make a note to inspect in late April next year.
Keep your June notes. When you inspect the property again next April, you will know where to look first, and you will be able to tell a visiting insect from the start of a new colony.
Wasp Nest Removal Essex works to a single fixed rate of £90 per nest, one visit guaranteed, and an additional nest on the same property comes to £35 more. Domestic and commercial properties are both part of the work, and it is fully insured, trading seven days a week with a same-day service on offer.
Dial 01245 327274 or book online using the form on the contact page. At the time of booking, mention that you want to know if the empty nest can be taken down.
Wasps on your property in Chipping Ongar?
Fixed price £90 per nest, same-day service available.