Wasp Nest in a Cavity Wall – How Professionals Treat Hidden Nests in Askern

Sometimes the first sign of a nest in a wall is not a sight but a sound, and knowing what you are hearing helps you decide when to call.

The sound of a colony behind plaster

A wasp nest makes noise. It is not loud, and in daytime it can be lost among everyday sounds, but in a quiet room, in the evening, a low humming or a dry, rustling scratch may be heard from inside a wall. People often assume it is pipes, a mouse or the central heating cooling down, until the first wasp appears.

Sound is more noticeable when the nest has grown. Wasps begin building in early April, depending on the spring, and the colony reaches its peak in August, when a nest might hold up to 2,000 wasps. A hum that was not there in June might be hard to miss by the end of July.

A household in Askern, a town north of Doncaster, may hear exactly this on a warm night, with a bedroom or hallway wall that seems to be alive.

It is a more common experience than you might think. A cavity wall can carry sound surprisingly well, especially when there is little insulation, and a bedroom wall can seem to be the source of every noise in the building.

What is it, if not wasps?

Plenty of other things make noises in a house, so it pays to think calmly before you decide. Pipes tick as they heat or cool. Birds and rodents scratch, though usually with a heavier, irregular rhythm. A wasp nest tends to produce a constant, soft buzz that rises when the day warms up and fades at night.

The best test is to look outside. If a stream of wasps goes in and out of a gap in the brickwork, the roof edge, a vent or a missing piece of pointing on the same side of the house as the noise, the answer is probably wasps. If you cannot find an outside entrance, you may still have a nest, because the wasps might be using a hole higher than you can see.

Another useful clue is when the sound happens. A rustling in the early morning that gradually builds as the sun reaches the wall points firmly to insects. A noise that starts after dark or at a fixed time each evening is more likely to be something else.

Listening safely

Put an ear to the wall if you like, but do not do it where wasps are coming through the plaster. Never bang on the wall to see what happens, drill or pierce a hole, or shine a torch into any small gap you find. Disturbing the nest could provoke a defensive response from inside the wall, and a swarm in a bedroom is a nightmare for everyone.

If you do see wasps inside the house, close the door of the room, put a towel along the bottom to stop them moving through, and keep pets and children out. Open a window if you want them to leave, but never try to catch a stream of them.

If the noise is in an upstairs room, check the ceiling and the corners of the room for wasps or chewed, papery debris. Do not poke at plaster or push anything through a gap. Keep the household calm, and agree that nobody opens the wall.

It also helps to move beds and chairs away from the affected wall if you can do so quietly, and to keep the room door closed while you wait for the visit.

What the technician does about a hidden nest

The visit begins with a conversation and a look at the outside. The technician identifies where the wasps are entering, and decides how best to treat the nest from the entry point where that is practical. The Wasp Exterminator's technicians are fully insured and qualified, and no work is carried out until you agree.

You might be asked whether the sound is heard in one room or several, how long it has been going on, and whether the wasps are appearing indoors. Answering these helps pinpoint the position of a hidden nest. If you would like to know whether the empty nest can be taken down afterwards, ask at the time of booking, since a nest inside a wall may not be accessible.

Domestic customers and business customers are both served, so this applies to a flat above a shop or a small office with the same problem.

Price and arrangements

A wasp nest costs a fixed £70 per nest. A second one at your address is £25 extra, and no call-out charge is made. The figure is confirmed by phone beforehand, and only nests that are hard to reach and need special access equipment might cost more. The firm works seven days a week and offers same-day service.

Ring 07798 792 774 or complete the online booking form or contact page. The technician in your area is alerted by text and email, so a message sent in the evening is not left waiting until the next working day.

When the noise stops

After treatment, the hum will gradually fade over the following days. If the noise has not faded after a short while, or you see wasps still using the same gap, let the technician know. Leave any repair or sealing until activity has ended. If the wall is part of a rented home, speak to your landlord about repairs, and check your tenancy agreement rather than assume who pays.

Once the wall is quiet and the gap is repaired, you are unlikely to hear it again unless a new queen finds a gap next spring. A quick look at the outside of the house in April is a good habit.

If you are worried about a gap that appeared where wasps were entering, take a photograph from a safe distance for the repair person, but wait until activity has stopped before anyone goes near it.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Askern