EXCELLENT
Do Wasps Return to the Same Nest Every Year? A Guide for Goole Gardens
Once a nest has been treated, you are left with questions: when is it safe, what about the empty nest, and will wasps return next year? Here are the answers.
What treatment does and does not do
When a technician treats a wasp nest, the aim is to deal with that colony at that location. It is not a promise that no wasp will ever build in your garden again, because a different queen the next spring is a separate matter. Each year brings a new set of queens looking for homes, and what they choose is up to them.
That said, the colony you had will not come back. Nests are made for a single season, and treated or not, the structure will never be used again. If you are having a nest treated in July, you are dealing with this year's problem, and next spring's is a different matter altogether.
It is also worth being clear about what we mean by "difficult areas". A nest high on a gable or deep in a roof might need special access equipment, and in that case the price might be higher. We always tell you before anything is done, and you decide whether to go ahead.
The first day or two afterwards
After the visit, some wasps may still be around for a short time, such as those that were out foraging while the work took place. Their numbers should fall away, but you may see a few returning to the old entrance and hovering there for a while. This is normal and is not a sign that anything has gone wrong. Keep your distance until the technician tells you it is safe to approach.
- Keep children and pets away from the area, as advised.
- Do not poke, hit or block the entrance in an attempt to help.
- Leave windows near the nest closed for the time being if the technician recommends it.
- Ask the technician at the end of the visit when you can use the area again.
If wasps are still very active after the time you were told to expect, contact us and describe what you see.
You may notice that the old entrance looks busy for an hour or two even when the nest has been dealt with. Workers that were away from the nest at the time can return to the spot and circle it, confused. They do not have a home to return to, and they will not rebuild. If you are watching from a window, resist the urge to go out for a closer look.
What to do with the empty nest
You can ask the technician at the time of booking whether the empty nest can be taken down. It depends on the position of the nest, how easy it is to reach and what is sensible for the building. We do not promise removal in every case.
If the nest stays in place, it is not harmful, though you might prefer to clear it for neatness once the area has been confirmed as safe. Where it is in a loft or cavity, it can be left alone, especially if taking it out would mean opening up a ceiling or wall. If it is on a branch or in a shed, it can be bagged and binned in the colder months.
The key point is that it will not be reoccupied. A new queen builds her own nest, so there is no need to worry about what might happen if the old structure stays up.
Will wasps come back next year?
Wasps will probably be somewhere in your area next year, since new queens appear every spring. Whether one chooses your property is uncertain. A queen looks for shelter, dryness and a hidden spot, and if your treated site still offers these, she might find it as attractive as the last one did.
That is why a few tasks after treatment are worthwhile. In the cold months, when you are sure nothing is using the gap, consider repairs to eaves, soffits, vents, shed roofs and similar openings. In early April, take a short walk around your property and look for single wasps examining gaps. The earlier you notice an interested queen, the more options you have.
Another thing worth knowing is that wasps from a different nest, perhaps in a neighbouring property, may fly across your garden. Seeing one or two wasps after treatment does not mean the job has not worked. What matters is whether steady traffic continues to the old entrance, or whether a new entrance has appeared.
If you do see a new entrance, keep your distance and give us a ring, describing where it is. A second nest on the same property is £25 extra, and the same conditions apply as for the first.
A short spring routine for Goole homes
You do not need a complicated plan. A routine of five minutes every couple of weeks from April to July is plenty.
- Pick a warm afternoon and check eaves, sheds, garages, hedges and the ground along banks.
- Look for wasps arriving at the same spot more than once.
- Keep a note of where the old nest was, and glance at that spot first.
- Tell family members and neighbours about anything you find.
- Stay back and arrange treatment if the traffic looks steady.
If anybody is stung, wash the sting, remove it if visible and apply a cold pack. Call 999 for swelling of the face, lips or throat, difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash.
As the summer goes on, turn the checks into a habit that takes no more than a minute: a glance up at the eaves as you come back from the car, a look at the side of the shed when you put the bins out. Little and often works better than a rare, long inspection, and it means you notice change quickly.
If you need us again
Should another nest appear, the Wasp Exterminator treats each one for a fixed £70 per nest, with a further nest at the same address costing £25 extra. We charge nothing for the call-out, open every day of the week and offer same-day service. The technician is fully insured and qualified, and both domestic and commercial properties are covered.
The price is confirmed on the phone before the visit, and it might be higher where special access equipment is needed to reach the nest. No work is done without your agreement. To book, ring 07798 792 774, fill in the online booking form or write through the contact page. If you had a nest treated before, mention where it was and we can compare with the new location.
Wasps on your property in Goole?
Fixed price £70 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.