Do Wasps Return to the Same Nest Every Year? A Guide for Little Owston Gardens

The easiest nest to deal with is one caught in April. Learn to recognise a queen house-hunting and what to do when you think a nest has started.

One large wasp in spring

On a mild day in early April, you might notice a single wasp that looks larger than the ones you remember from last summer, flying slowly and low along a wall or fence. She seems to be in no hurry, and she does not bother you. This is very likely a queen, and she is looking for somewhere to build.

It is easy to dismiss one wasp as unimportant. But a nest in April is a small beginning, and it will grow through the summer until it peaks in August, when it can hold as many as 2,000 wasps. If you can spot the beginning, you can deal with it at its simplest.

Many people are surprised to learn that it is the size of the colony in August that makes wasps seem like a sudden arrival. In reality they have been present since spring, quietly building up. The sudden appearance is an illusion.

Where the old nest fits in

You may have found a nest last year and be wondering whether this is the same colony coming back. It is not. The previous colony died in autumn and its nest was abandoned. The queen you see now is one of the young queens produced at the end of the previous season, who survived the winter in a sheltered spot and is now founding a nest of her own.

She may choose a site that is quite close to last year's, simply because the same qualities appeal to her. But she will not reuse the old structure. If you still have it, it gives you a useful marker for where to look first.

How a queen behaves when searching

A queen looking for a site behaves differently from a worker feeding on a plum. Signs to watch for include:

• slow, hovering flight along walls, fences, eaves and the edges of sheds
• repeated visits to the same crack, hole or gap
• landing and walking into an opening, then reappearing a few minutes later
• crawling into holes in banks or under lawn edges
• behaviour that continues for more than one day at the same place

A single visit does not mean a nest. Queens often inspect several places and move on. A return trip, especially several in one afternoon, is more telling.

It also helps to know what is normal. A queen may spend part of a day exploring a garden and then disappear for good. She may visit your shed and then choose the neighbour's. You cannot control that, but you can notice it, and noticing is the first step.

What you can do at this stage

Quietly watch from a distance, and write down where the wasp went. Tell the others at home. If you are certain the gap you saw her enter is not yet in use, there is a short window to prevent a nest; but if there is any chance that a queen has already begun building inside, do not block the hole, since she and any workers may find another route into the building.

1. Keep your distance and observe for a couple of days.
2. Look for a second or third wasp joining her, which means a nest has begun.
3. Keep everyone, including pets, away from the spot.
4. Avoid swatting or spraying, even at a lone queen near the entrance.
5. Ask for advice if you are unsure what you are seeing.

Where the wasps are using a high or awkward place, such as a gable, do not use a ladder to take a closer look.

Keep a note on your phone or a piece of paper: the date, the time of day, the place, what the wasp did. If you later need to describe it, those few details are valuable. Take a photograph if you can do so from a safe distance, though never get close to the gap to do so.

Why early treatment is easier

A young nest is small and holds few wasps. It is easier to treat than a large one, and there is less time for the household to be affected by traffic and stings. The price does not depend on the size of the nest, so there is no cost to waiting, but there is a safety benefit in acting early. A nest that is allowed to grow is simply a bigger hazard for the family, the postman and the neighbours.

In the Little Owston area, as anywhere, any home with a roof edge, shed or hedge can be chosen. A little vigilance in April and May is the easiest protection you can have.

Booking a visit

The Wasp Exterminator treats wasp nests at a fixed £70 per nest. If a second nest is found on the same property, it is £25 extra. There is no call-out charge, we are open seven days a week and same-day service is available. Our technician is fully insured and qualified, and covers domestic and commercial properties alike.

We confirm the price on the phone before anyone arrives. It might be higher in a difficult spot that needs special access equipment, and nothing happens without your agreement. To arrange a visit, ring 07798 792 774, or use the online booking form or the contact page. Say where you saw the wasp, what it was doing and how long you have been watching. At the end of the visit, you can also ask the technician about taking the empty nest down.

If anyone in the household is stung during the season, wash the area, remove a visible sting and use a cold pack. Dial 999 if the face, lips or throat swell, if breathing becomes difficult, or if there is dizziness or a spreading rash. People with a known allergy should talk to their GP.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Little Owston