Found a Wasp Nest in Your Loft in Ongar? Here's What to Do

A loft nest begins as something tiny and quiet, and understanding its calendar explains why it often goes unnoticed until the middle of summer.

Spring: small and silent

From late April, depending on the weather, wasps begin looking for somewhere to start a nest. A roof space with a way in at the eaves is attractive: dry, warm and undisturbed. The first nest is tiny, often no bigger than a walnut, and only a handful of wasps are involved.

At this stage there is almost nothing to hear and very little to see. You might notice a single wasp exploring the roof edge or a window, and think nothing of it. That is the best time for a nest to be found, though few people realise it.

If you do see a wasp repeatedly returning to the same gap in the spring, make a note of it. It could be the start of something.

Weather decides the timing. A mild, early spring can mean the first nests are started in April, while a cold one delays everything by a couple of weeks. That is why no calendar can tell you exactly when to start looking, and why a watchful eye on the roof edge is more reliable than a date.

Early summer: the workforce arrives

As the weather warms, the first workers emerge and take over building and feeding. The nest expands in layers of grey paper, made from chewed wood fibre. More workers hatch, and the colony grows quickly. By June there may be several hundred wasps, and the flight path to the entrance starts to look like a regular journey.

This is when many people first sense that something is happening. A faint hum may be audible in a quiet room, and wasps may start turning up at upstairs windows. Because the loft is closed, you will still see nothing directly.

Treating the nest in June is far simpler than in August, simply because there are fewer wasps and less chance of a large number reaching the house.

Because the colony is still modest, the number of wasps wandering indoors is low, which makes it easy to dismiss them as strays. If you find two or three in the same upstairs room over a week, though, treat that as a pattern and not a coincidence.

High summer: the August peak

By July and August the colony is at its largest. A nest can hold from 2,000 to 10,000 or more wasps. The hum is stronger, and the traffic at the entrance is busy from morning to evening. This is also when wasps are most noticeable around people, drinks and food, as they search for sugar.

It is the stage at which people tend to call, and it is also the stage at which the risk of stings is highest. Disturbing the nest at this point, by opening the hatch, banging on the ceiling or blocking the entrance, can have serious consequences.

Do not go near the loft. Close doors to rooms where wasps appear, keep children and pets away, and arrange treatment as soon as you can.

Rarely does anything about the nest itself change after August. What changes is the number of wasps, and the amount of nest paper they have built. A football-sized nest in a loft corner weighs little but houses a great many insects, and it only takes one gap in the ceiling for a few of them to find a route into your rooms.

What to do at each stage

• Spring: watch the roof edge for scouts and consider repairs to gaps before activity starts.
• Early summer: notice new humming or wasps indoors, and act at the first sign.
• High summer: stay out of the loft and book treatment.
• Autumn: expect the colony to dwindle, but remain cautious on mild days.

The principle is simple: the earlier you act, the fewer wasps you face. But even a large nest in August can be treated, so there is no need to panic if it was only noticed late.

Autumn brings its own caution. As the nest winds down, wasps have fewer grubs to feed and become more restless and irritable around sweet food and drinks. Keep bins covered and take care when drinking outdoors, as a wasp in a can or glass is a classic way to get stung.

Booking treatment

Wasp Nest Removal Essex works seven days a week, offers same-day service and covers Ongar and surrounding villages, for homes and commercial premises. A nest is dealt with for a fixed £90 in all, and the booking comes with one visit guaranteed. An additional nest on the same property costs £35 for the additional nest.

To book, ring 01245 327274 or complete the booking form on the contact page. Say what time of year you noticed the first signs and what you have seen since. If someone at home is allergic to stings, tell the business at booking.

The work is carried out by a fully insured technician, who will explain what is happening on the day.

After the nest has been dealt with

Once the colony is treated, the nest becomes inactive. You may see a few stragglers for a short while. Open a window and let them go, and sweep up any dead wasps, wearing shoes. If you want the empty nest removed, raise it at booking.

Plan for the following spring. A look at the roof edge in April, and a repair of any gaps, can prevent a repeat. If you do see a scout exploring a gap, you have time to act before a colony begins to grow.

It is worth recording the date of this year's nest, so that if you see wasps in the same place next spring, you can compare. An entry on your phone calendar is enough. Years do vary, but a pattern in your own house is more valuable than a general rule.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Ongar