Wasps Around Your Guttering and Fascias? How to Find the Nest in Walton-on-the-Naze

Wasps do not need a large hole, and the small openings around cables, pipes and fixings near the gutter line are among the easiest entrances to overlook.

Wasps only need a small gap

A founding wasp in spring is not looking for a large cavity. She needs an opening about the width of a finger or less, leading into a dry, sheltered space. That means entrances do not have to be obvious defects like a missing board. A hole where a cable enters the wall, a gap around a vent pipe or a slot beside a bracket will do equally well.

Near the roofline there are many such places. Telephone and broadband lines come in under the eaves, outdoor lights and alarm boxes are fixed through the fascia, extractor vents and soil pipes pass through the wall, and gutter brackets are screwed into the board. Each penetration was sealed once, but sealant shrinks and cracks with the years.

Once you start looking, you may be surprised how many fittings sit within a metre or two of the gutter. Each is a possible doorway, and the more fittings a wall has, the more places there are to check.

Where to look from the ground

Walk round slowly and look at the line of the eaves and the wall just below it. Pick out every cable, pipe, fitting and fixture that touches the building, and look for a dark gap around it. Often the sealant has dried and pulled away, leaving a crescent-shaped opening, or a plastic collar has cracked.

Then watch. A suspicious spot is only a suspect until wasps are seen using it. Stay well back, give it ten minutes of sun and follow any wasp that lands near the fitting. If it goes in and others follow, you have your entrance.

• Cable and aerial entries beneath the eaves.
• Vent pipes and extractor outlets close to the roof.
• Security lights and alarm boxes bolted to the fascia.
• Gaps beside gutter brackets and downpipe clips.
• Satellite dish mountings drilled into the wall.

Cold or damp surfaces are less attractive than warm, dry ones, so a gap on a sunny wall is likelier to be used than one on a shaded elevation. Still, check every side.

Why a small hole can mean a big nest

The size of the entrance tells you little about what lies behind it. A neat round hole into a wall cavity or the space behind a fascia can lead to a void as long as the wall. A colony grows into whatever room it finds, and by August a nest of thousands of wasps can fill a surprisingly large space.

The hole itself is often widened by the wasps as they chew at the edge. Over a season a gap the width of a pencil can become wide enough for two or three wasps at a time. If you notice the opening getting bigger, make a note of it for the technician.

Do not be misled by quiet. A nest in a deep void can be audible from inside but invisible outside, with only a few wasps coming and going at any moment. That thin trickle is still a nest.

Keep a note of how many entrances you spot. If wasps are using two openings at once, it may be one large nest or two separate ones, and the technician will find out which.

Leave the wiring alone

Many of these entrances are beside electrical cables and fittings. Do not poke around them, fill the gap with anything or attempt to dislodge a nest from near a light or alarm box. Water and electrics do not mix, and neither do stinging insects and a ladder.

If a security light, alarm sensor or doorbell has stopped working, mention it to us when you book. The technician can work around fixtures, but a damaged cable is a job for an electrician once the wasps have been dealt with. Keep children and pets away from the area, and keep windows on that side shut.

If you rent your home, the landlord or agent may need to arrange any electrical or building repair. Check your tenancy agreement for who is responsible, as we cannot advise on that.

The visit and the repair

A technician serving Walton-on-the-Naze will locate the opening, set up suitable access and treat the nest at its source, wearing protective clothing. The empty nest may or may not be reachable, so ask when you book if you would like it taken down.

When the wasps have gone, have each gap closed. A tradesperson can re-seal around cables with a suitable external sealant, refit cracked collars, and add mesh or covers to vents, taking care not to block the airflow that appliances need. Doing it promptly stops a new founding wasp using the same hole next spring.

A small amount of preparation helps. Clear the ground beneath the fitting, move bins and furniture, and tell the technician which room the cable or pipe serves, which sometimes shows the route the wasps are taking.

Cost and booking

Treatment is a fixed £90 per nest and includes one visit guaranteed. Should there be a second nest on the same property, that one costs £35 more. We cover homes and commercial premises, we are fully insured, and the lines are open seven days a week with same-day service offered.

To book, call 01245 327274 or fill in the booking form on the contact page. If anyone in the household reacts badly to stings, tell us when you book. Should someone be stung, wash the spot, take out any visible sting and apply a cold pack, and dial 999 for swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing, dizziness or a widespread rash.

Keep a note of each gap sealed and when. Next spring, a quick look at the same places will tell you whether anything has opened up again.

Frequently asked questions

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