What Are The Signs Of Wasp Nests
- Posted by:
- Admin
- Tags:
- wasp, nest, insects
- Posted date:
- 31-10-2021
If you are concerned about wasps, you may be wondering: what are the signs of wasp nests? This article explores the signs there's a wasp's nest on your property.
Signs There's a Wasp's Nest On Your Property
A wasp infestation on your property can be incredibly serious. It can put a stop to any activities in a specific room or even temporarily make your building inhospitable. This is a serious inconvenience, especially if the building is used for running a business or has an important purpose, such as a doctor's office or a school.
Below we will describe the signs that you may have a wasp nest on your property. If you are concerned after reading this list, then seek action as soon as possible.
Swarming insects
During the summer months, it is not usual to see the odd rogue insect flying around your property, but a large swarm of insects is a common sign that you may have a nest somewhere within your property.
Wasps will leave their nests several times during the day in order to collect food; they will then return to care for the wasp's queen and their young.
If you can follow the path that these wasps are taking, then you may be able to locate the nest.
Visible structures
Wasp nests all look very similar and have a very recognisable structure. Their texture is papery, and they are usually shaped somewhat like a rugby ball or a balloon. Wasp nests are a mixture of dull brown and grey colours; from a small distance, you may be able to notice their swirling pattern, which wraps around the surface of the nest.
From underneath, you can sometimes even see the individual cells of the nest. If you have the unfortunate situation of discovering a nest within your property, under no circumstances should you attempt to remove the nest yourself. To prevent harm to yourself and other residents within the building, always contact a professional.
Identifying a Wasp Nest
Wasps produce their nests out of a mixture of saliva and chewed up wood pulp. This gives the nest's their distinct papery look and texture. You can find wasp's nests constructed in sheltered areas with access to the outside world. Places you may commonly find wasp nests are garages, sheds, inside wall cavities, tucked away in roof spaces and under eaves.
The easiest way to locate a wasp nest is to find yourself a worker wasp who has left the nest to collect food for the hive. Watch the wasp and carefully follow its flight path back as it returns to its queen. This should give you at least an approximate location of the nest.
A buzzing noise
When building a nest, wasps will buzz very loudly. This means that even if you cannot directly see the nest, then you may be able to detect that there is a nest nearby. If you can't find a nest, but you can hear a constant loud buzzing noise, then you have a nest hidden away in your attic or rafters of your house.
Where would I find a wasp nest?
The two most commonplace locations where wasp nests are found are as follows:
Wasp nests are most commonly found in dark, secluded areas, which give the wasps access to the outside world in order to go out and collect food for their young and the queen.
Unfortunately, most of the time, this is located inside someone's house.
Wasp's nests have been found underneath roof tiles, underneath awnings, in attics, garages and sheds, and even inside people's seldom used wardrobes.
Wasp nests can also occasionally be found under the ground.
This is less common but is absolutely still something to look out for if you are having trouble with swarms of wasps in or around your property. The nest will usually be connected to a tree's dead root system, which has created space in the dirt for wasps to form a nest.
How big can a wasp nest be?
Wasp's nests start their journey as a small sphere; imagine a walnut or a golf ball. This initial nest is created by the queen in the springtime. During the summer months, as more wasps join the nest, the wasp will grow and grow until it is the size of a football. It is not unheard of that a wasp nest can grow even larger than this, though.
You're always best dealing with a wasp nest as early as possible in the building process. If you can have the nest removed in spring, then the nest will not have time to grow, as well as the wasps being far less aggressive as they would be in the summer months.
How to prevent a wasp nest
If you are worried about a wasp nest manifesting on your property, then there are steps you can take to boost your chances of keeping wasps away. Below they are described.
- Ensure that all unintentional entry points to your home are blocked up and sealed. This includes minor holes in ceilings, cracks, pipes, etc.
- In the spring and summer months, you should use fly screens on your doors and windows to stop wasps from entering your home. One wasp getting into a location where they shouldn't be can be the start of a nest and a lot of trouble for the property owner.
- This one is very important. External bins containing rubbish outside your property should have securely fitted lids. This is done so that worker wasps cannot find an easy source of food. Rotting old food is a huge attraction for wasps, so be careful with this over spring and summer.
- Finally, a common way to prevent wasps is by using a wasp trap or a wasp pot. These are placed around your property as a way to lure in wasps and trap them inside. They should be available from anywhere that sells DIY equipment or online. If you're feeling up to the task, then you can make a wasp trap yourself using an empty bottle of some kind with water and a sugar solution within.
Of course, the only true way to eliminate wasps is by having a nest removed. A professional pest control business can sort this issue out for you with no stress involved. They will effectively and humanely remove the nest so your property can go back to how it was previously used.
Are you looking for wasp nest removal in Bedfordshire or Hertfordshire? Our wasp pest control experts offer nest removal services for Milton Keynes, Stevenage and the surrounding areas. To learn more about our wasp pest control and nest removal, feel free to follow the links below.