When Is Wasp Season in Moss?

Late in the summer, wasps turn their attention to sweet food and drink, so garden meals and picnics need a little extra thought.

Outdoor life and wasps

For most people, wasps are a garden-table problem. They appear when the sun is out and the food is on show. The behaviour changes through the season, which is why a picnic in June can feel entirely different from one in late August.

Understanding that shift helps you plan outdoor meals sensibly without giving up the garden altogether. Moss is a village north of Doncaster near Askern, and gardens there will see the same pattern as elsewhere.

Wasps are not simply a pest at the dinner table. They are also part of the garden’s activity in summer, and a few wandering insects are normal. The aim is a comfortable meal outdoors, not a garden with no wasps at all.

The pattern is easy to remember. Early in the year wasps are focused on the nest, later they are focused on food. That change is what makes late summer feel so different from early summer.

Early and mid-summer

The nest begins small in early April, depending on the weather, and grows through the early part of the summer. Wasps are busy, but their attention is on building and feeding the colony rather than on your barbecue.

You will still see them about, and they are often seen on fruit, bins and drinks. In general this is the easiest part of the season for eating outdoors, though a stream of wasps to one particular spot is worth noting even now.

One trick for the early part of the season is to keep sweet food covered anyway. Habits built in June carry over into August, when it matters most, and you do not need to rethink the routine as the weather gets warmer.

Fruit on the ground is worth mentioning here too. Windfalls attract wasps from early in the season, and clearing them away regularly removes one of the easiest sources of food in a garden.

Late summer: the sweet tooth

As the season goes on, wasps tend to become more interested in sugary food and drink. This is the stage at which they seem to be everywhere, hovering over jam, fruit, fizzy drinks and ice cream.

The colony is at its largest around August, and many wasps are out looking for food. That is why late-summer picnics and garden parties can quickly turn into a battle. It is also when someone is most likely to take a mouthful of drink with a wasp inside the can.

• Cover food and drink when not in use.
• Pour drinks into glasses instead of drinking from cans or bottles.
• Keep sticky spills wiped up and bins closed.
• Pick up windfall fruit from lawns and paths.
• Stay calm and move away slowly rather than flapping.

Anyone who has ever sipped from a can without looking will know the risk. A wasp that has crawled inside can sting the mouth or throat, which is painful and can be serious. Pouring into a glass or using a cup with a lid takes a few seconds and removes the problem.

Picnics away from home are different, since you do not control the surroundings. Choose a spot away from bins, keep food in closed containers until you are ready to eat, and put the lids back afterwards. If a wasp settles on food, brush it gently away rather than slapping at it.

When it is more than a few stray wasps

A handful of wasps at a table is normal. A constant stream of insects heading the same way is not. If you notice wasps arriving from the same direction and leaving the same way, a nest is likely close by.

In that case, moving the table further away is a temporary measure, but the real solution is to have the nest treated. Keep children and pets clear of the area in the meantime, and do not try to find the entrance by following the wasps to the source.

Sit away from bins and compost heaps, where wasps gather. If the table is under a hedge or a tree, check above for any sign of activity before sitting down.

When you are clearing up after a meal, take plates and glasses indoors promptly. Leftovers and sticky glasses left on an outdoor table are the main reason wasps keep visiting, and a ten-minute delay is often enough for them to find it.

Children enjoy outdoor eating the most and notice wasps the least. A calm word beforehand about how to behave if one lands nearby is more use than any amount of fussing during the meal.

Hosting and events

If you have a party, wedding or family gathering planned, check the garden a few days before. A nest that is found early gives you time to arrange treatment. One found on the morning of the event is more stressful.

Same-day service is offered, so even a late discovery may be dealt with. The Wasp Exterminator charges a fixed £70 for a nest, with an extra nest on the same property at £25 extra, and no call-out charge. The price is confirmed on the phone, and it might be higher in difficult places that need special access equipment.

Plan for the unexpected. Keep a small first-aid kit nearby with a cold pack, and make sure adults know what to do if a child is stung. Wash the area, take out the sting if you can see it, and use something cold on the spot.

Booking and safety

To book, phone 07798 792 774 or send the online form. The business is open seven days a week for homes and businesses. If anyone is stung, wash the area, remove the sting if visible, and use a cold pack. Call 999 for swelling of the face, lips or throat, difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash.

The business covers domestic and commercial work, so a village hall, club or café garden can be treated in the same way as a private house. Mention if there will be an event so that the visit can be arranged around it.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Moss