When Is Wasp Season in Ostend?

Properties that are left empty for stretches of the summer can host a nest unnoticed, so owners and managers need a plan for the wasp calendar.

Empty for weeks, busy for wasps

A house that is occupied every day tends to show a nest early, because somebody sees the traffic. A property that stands empty between guests, or that is only used now and then, can go a fortnight without anyone looking. Wasps need no invitation, and what starts in late April as a tiny structure can be a major colony by the time the next guests arrive.

For owners and managers of homes in Ostend that are let or visited only now and then, the wasp calendar deserves a place in the maintenance plan.

The same applies to a home owned by someone who lives elsewhere and visits for a few weeks, or to a house whose occupants are away on holiday for part of the summer. The wasp calendar does not pause when nobody is in, so a plan that suits an occupied house needs adapting for an empty one.

Before the season: spring inspection

Wasps begin building from late April, depending on the weather, using gaps in eaves, walls, chimneys, trees, bushes and holes in the ground. A spring visit is the best moment to look at every side of the building and at the garden, shed and any outbuildings.

• Walk the whole exterior in dry, warm weather.
• Check for repeated flight paths to one spot.
• Look under garden furniture covers and inside sheds.
• Photograph anything of note so you can compare next time.

If somebody else looks after the keys for you, ask them to carry out this check and report back with a photograph.

Make a point of looking at awkward places that a normal occupier would pass daily: the underside of porches, the gap beside the meter box, the roof void accessed from a hatch, and the space behind stacked deck chairs. A nest that begins its life in one of these places can grow unseen for weeks.

It is useful to give the property a short written inspection sheet, with a box for each area, so whoever checks it knows what to look at and what to report.

During the season: keeping watch from a distance

Between guests, build a quick exterior check into the changeover routine. It need not take more than a few minutes: walk round the outside, look up at the roofline, and note any wasp traffic. The aim is to catch a nest before arrival day, not to discover it with a car full of luggage.

Pay special attention in July and August. The colony peaks in August and a nest can hold from 2,000 to 10,000 or more wasps, which is a serious hazard for guests who do not know the property and may walk straight past a flight path.

If you manage several properties, keep a simple log of dates and results. Over a season it shows you which buildings are more prone to wasps, and it provides evidence when you need to explain a situation to the owner. Include notes such as "no activity at roofline" as well as positive findings, so you know a check actually happened.

When a property is going to stand empty for some time after a check, a nest may begin in the gap. A second look just before guests arrive is therefore worth the few minutes it takes.

Telling guests and visitors

If a nest is found, decide quickly whether to keep the affected area out of use. Block off a patio, garden or doorway that sits beneath the nest and make sure arriving guests know where it is safe to park and walk.

It is sensible to give simple, calm information: do not approach the area, keep windows closed on that side, and use the other entrance. Include first aid basics for stings in your guest information: wash the area, remove the sting if visible and use a cold pack. Anyone with swelling of the face, lips or throat, difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash should call 999.

Keep in mind that guests on holiday are often relaxed, barefoot and carrying drinks. They sit by the door, hang towels on the fence and leave cans on the step. That is exactly the behaviour that draws wasps, so it is worth including a polite reminder to keep food and drink covered and to close bins after use.

If someone in a booking party is allergic to wasp stings, they will want to know about any known nest, so be honest about what you have found and what has been arranged.

Who arranges the treatment

Whether an owner, a letting agent, a manager or a tenant is responsible for arranging pest treatment depends on the tenancy or management agreement, so check your paperwork rather than assuming. What matters in practice is that somebody books promptly once a nest is found.

Think ahead for events too. If a large group is booked for a stay in August, check the exterior the week before, and book any treatment so that it is finished before they arrive. Same-day service is offered, but allowing a little time before guests come means you are not working to the last minute.

After the season: a checklist for the empty months

As numbers fall in autumn, use the quiet months to prevent a repeat. Note where you saw wasps entering, arrange repairs to gaps and make sure the property is checked again from late April. A property that is inspected in spring has a much lower chance of surprising its next visitors.

If you find an old, empty nest, ask the technician at booking whether it can be taken down once the site is safe.

The fixed price with Wasp Nest Removal Essex is £90 per nest, with one visit guaranteed, and a further nest on the same property is £35 extra. Homes, shops, offices and other business premises are all covered, it is fully insured, and it opens seven days a week with same-day service offered.

To book, phone 01245 327274 or use the online booking form on the contact page. While arranging the visit, ask the technician whether the empty nest can be taken down afterwards. If anyone in the household is allergic to wasp stings, flag it during booking so the booking can be prioritised.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Ostend