Why Are Wasps Flying Into Your Stansted Mountfitchet Home? Common Causes and Solutions

Sliding doors, wide openings and long days outdoors give wasps plenty of opportunity, but a few household rules make a big difference.

Open-plan homes and wide doors

A modern home often has a large opening onto the garden: bifold doors, sliding patio doors or French windows. In summer they are left open for hours, joining the kitchen and the lawn into one space. It is a wonderful feature, but it means a wasp has a direct and unobstructed route to the table.

In open-plan rooms there are fewer barriers. A wasp that comes in at one end can reach the other without interruption, and it may be a long way from the exit by the time you notice.

A glazed extension or a kitchen with roof lights adds to the challenge. Warm air rises and escapes through high-level windows, drawing insects upwards and into the roof of the room. Fit screens to any opening roof light.

Think too about the first floor. A balcony or terrace off an upstairs room works in the same way as a ground-floor patio door, and wasps will happily climb to it.

Screens for big openings

The best protection is a screen that fits the opening. Options include:

• Sliding fly screens that run on a track beside the door.
• Pleated mesh blinds that can be pulled across when needed.
• Magnetic curtains that close behind you.
• Retractable screens fitted into the frame.
• A bead or chain curtain for a quick, cheap solution.

Measure carefully and fit the screen so there are no gaps at the bottom, which is where insects often find their way.

Check the measurements twice and choose a screen that sits snugly in the frame. Retractable screens are more expensive but disappear when not in use, which suits people who dislike the look of mesh. Whatever you choose, fit it before the wasp season begins in late April.

Shaded porches and verandas can be fitted with simple, inexpensive mesh panels that clip on for the summer and come off in autumn. A handyman can usually do the job in an afternoon.

Managing the flow of people

Holidays bring friends and family who come and go all day. Fix a rule that the door is closed behind you, or that only one door is open at a time. Put the food on the side furthest from the door, and take plates and drinks inside promptly.

Place a bin with a lid outside, away from the opening, and make sure it has a tight fit.

Agree a sensible policy for children and teenagers, who tend to leave doors open behind them. A reminder sign by the door, drawn by the children themselves, is more effective than an adult telling them off.

If you are hosting a party with many guests, a closed-door policy is impractical. In that case set up food and drink tables in one area, keep them covered and put a helper in charge of clearing plates promptly.

Eating and drinking outdoors

Eat on the patio instead of in the garden if you can, as hard surfaces are easy to wipe. Use covers over dishes and drinks. Provide a place for sticky hands to be washed. After a meal, clear the table at once and wipe it with a damp cloth.

Teach everyone to check a cup or can before drinking. A wasp that has crawled into a drink can sting the mouth or throat, which can swell dangerously. Call 999 if swelling affects the face, lips or throat, or if breathing becomes difficult.

Barbecue smells are very attractive. Keep the grill as far from the open door as is practical, and bring cooked food in covered. Wasps cluster around raw meat and sauces, so keep those covered until the moment they are used.

Keep a basket by the door for items that attract wasps, such as empty cans, juice cartons and used glasses, and take it out of the house at regular intervals. It is a simple habit that keeps clutter and attractants away from the kitchen.

Keep an eye on the children’s inflatable pool or water table. Wasps drink from the edge of shallow water in warm weather, and a toddler paddling beside one is at risk. Fill and empty these daily.

If wasps keep coming

If wasps continue to arrive despite screens and tidiness, look for the nest. Watch the line of flight. A nest in the garden, a neighbour’s hedge, a roof edge or the ground may be to blame. Do not approach it. A colony can contain from 2,000 to 10,000 wasps or more in August.

Treatment from Wasp Nest Removal Essex costs a fixed £90 per nest, with one visit guaranteed and £35 for another nest at the same property. The business is fully insured, open seven days a week and offers same-day service.

Be wary of the sunny side of the house, where wasps warm up first, and keep seating away from walls where a nest may be located.

Watch for patterns during the day. Wasps tend to arrive around meal times, because they have learned that is when food is outside. Moving the meal an hour earlier or later is a small trick that sometimes helps.

Booking in Stansted Mountfitchet

In Stansted Mountfitchet, ring 01245 327274 or use the booking form on the contact page. Let them know about any wasp allergy among your guests or household so that the booking can be prioritised, and ask about the empty nest once treated.

Mention the layout of your home when you call. A technician will find it helpful to know where doors and windows are and where the wasps have been appearing.

Remember that wasps follow warmth and light as well as smells, so closing blinds on the sunniest side in the afternoon can make rooms less appealing. It also keeps the house cooler.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Stansted Mountfitchet