.png)
TREAT WASP NESTS EARLY
- Jon Ely
- Mar 27
- 3 min read
Why ignoring a wasp nest and not treating it early can become a more serious problem later on.
Table of contents:
SHOULD ALL WASP AND HORNET NESTS BE DESTROYED?
The answer is, that it is a judgement call which ultimately is made by the property owner. Of course, pest controllers gladly give advice and can inform a client of issues and potential hazards that they might be unaware of.
Here are some scenarios that I have come across. What do you think the decision was?
A customer called me out for a wasp nest and took me the better part of 100 metres down the garden for a nest in the flower bed. The questions I asked her were as follows: Do you have children and/or pets? No. Do you feel threatened by them in any way? No. Could any of your neighbours be affected by a nest in your garden? No. Are you expecting any tradesmen to visit and do work in the garden? No.
A primary school contacted me to say that there was a wasp nest in a grass bank next to a pathway to the playground.
A customer in early autumn was having a number of wasps entering the office from which they ran their business.
A couple called me out in the autumn for wasp activity in their roof. They had been unaware of a nest, but a visiting tradesman pointed it out to them.
What was decided?
No treatment necessary. There was no health and safety issue. The nest would naturally become redundant anyway as the summer heat diminished.
Treated immediately. An obvious hazard to young children and the potential for dangerous anaphylactic reaction from stings.
Nest treated. The office wasn't having an occasional wasp visitor, but many were getting in. The ability to run the business from the office was being compromised and impacting their peace of mind.
No treatment necessary. The couple were grateful for an honest assessment that as it was late season the nest would resolve itself naturally. Neither they nor their neighbours were in any way affected.
WHY IS IGNORING THE NEST SOMETIMES THE WRONG DECISION?
Scenario #3 above was replicated a number of times in the 2025 season. Wasp activity is noticed in early summer, perhaps even the telltale flight path in and out of a hole in the property. People understandably and commendably think 'live and let live' but the activity is close to significant parts of the house, such as the front door, bedrooms, garage, childrens' play area in the garden etc. and choose to not treat the wasp nest early.
The photo above shows what a new nest with the queen's initial cells looks like. The problem is that this early golf to tennis ball sized nest can fairly quickly grow in size. It is said that the queen in the rapid expansion phase of the lifecycle can lay 200 - 300 eggs per day, with adults emerging in about a month. The tennis ball gets pumped up to beachball size and bigger even, now with thousands of inhabitants.
The majority of nests are inaccessible and not free hanging. The queen has entered a small hole in the building and as the nest expands and free space gets used up they can find their way into the property.
One couple was in bed and the wasps in the nest above the ceiling chewed the plaster board away and suddenly swarmed into the bedroom. They said that it had been a long time since they moved so quickly. I treated the nest from inside the bedroom through the chewed out hole in the ceiling. There were hundreds in the bedroom.
CONCLUSION
Knowing that the growth of a nest can be considerable, if you see one or think there is some activity in a part of the property that could become a health and safety issue, then it might be prudent to deal with a new nest with a handful of creatures than allowing it to become a thousands nest.
GOT A WASP OR HORNET NEST?
With prices from £120 Three Counties Pest Control can deal with any nest internally and externally.
We apply a 50% discount for any additional nests on site treated on the same visit.
