When Is Wasp Season in Sneinton?
Many people say a wasp nest appeared overnight in August; in reality it has been growing quietly for months and has only just become visible.
The nest was always there
It is common for householders to report that wasps were not a problem on Monday and are everywhere by Friday. In nearly every case the nest has been growing for months. Because it sits in a cavity, a roof space or a hole in the ground, the first few months of its life happen out of sight. Only when the numbers become large enough to spill out, usually in late July and August, does it become obvious.
This is true in Sneinton as much as anywhere else, and it explains why the apparent suddenness catches so many people out.
What happens behind the scenes
A queen starts the nest from late April, depending on how mild the spring is. By early summer she has a handful of workers; by midsummer there are hundreds. At the peak in August a colony can hold 2,000 to 10,000 or more wasps. Growth is not steady but accelerating, because every new worker helps raise more workers.
That means most of the increase comes in the last few weeks before the peak. The nest looks as though it jumped from nothing to enormous, when in fact it has simply passed the point where the entrance cannot hide the traffic.
Think about how a snowball grows. The first workers help the queen raise more workers, and those workers raise still more. Doubling is slow at first and then very fast, which is why the nest can seem to leap from a trickle of wasps to a crowd in the space of a couple of weeks.
Clues you may have overlooked
Looking back, there are often earlier signs of a nest that were not obvious at the time:
- A few more wasps than usual around one corner of the house in June
- A new patch of stained or damp-looking material on a ceiling or wall
- A dry scratching sound at certain times of day
- Wasps entering a vent, soffit or airbrick
- Small bits of chewed wood fibre on a windowsill
None of these proves a nest, but together they can be enough to justify having a closer, careful look from a safe distance.
If you go back over the summer, many people recall a moment in June or July when they thought there seemed to be more wasps in the garden than usual and dismissed it. That moment is often when the colony passed the point where it needed to send many foragers out each day. Trust that instinct next year and have a careful, distant look.
Pay attention to timing as well. Wasps from a nest tend to fly in and out most steadily during warm, bright hours, and activity drops when the weather turns cool or wet. If you notice a pattern that follows the sun across the front or back of the house, that is a strong hint that the entrance faces that direction.
What to do when the numbers jump
Stay calm and keep your distance. Wasps defending a nest can be provoked by vibration, sudden movement and smoke, so avoid hammering, strimming or shaking anything near the entrance. Do not seal the hole, because trapped wasps can find other ways out, including into the building.
Close nearby windows, keep children and pets indoors or at the far side of the garden and make a note of where the traffic is heading. A clear description of the entrance point and its height helps when you phone.
Where the nest is also matters for how fast it seems to appear. A nest in an open tree branch is spotted early, because you can see the papery shape. A nest hidden in a cavity wall or underground reveals itself only through traffic. The second kind is the one that appears to come from nowhere.
It is also sensible to let anyone else in the household know where the nest is, so that nobody takes the washing out, mows the lawn or opens a window right beside it without knowing. A quick message to family members can prevent a nasty surprise, particularly if you are out when the wasps are at their most active.
Getting it treated
The fixed price to treat a wasp nest is £95 per nest, with £35 for an extra nest on the same property. There is no call-out charge, and the price is agreed on the phone before a technician attends. We are open seven days a week and can offer same-day service for homes and commercial premises.
Tell us at booking if anyone is allergic to stings. To arrange a visit, ring 0115 937 5117 or use the online form on the contact page. Once the nest is treated, you can ask the technician whether the empty nest can be taken down.
Because the visit is a single call-out, there is no need to be present for the treatment itself in many cases, but do let us know who can give access to the area and whether any gates are locked.
Why waiting does not help in August
Some households decide to wait and see, hoping the wasps will leave. Unfortunately, at the August peak the colony is still growing or at its largest, and the wasps are not going anywhere for weeks. During that time the chances of an accidental disturbance, such as someone opening a shed door or leaning a ladder against the wall, only rise.
It is also worth remembering that stress and hunger in late summer make wasps more likely to wander into homes and gardens. Having a clear plan, rather than hoping the situation will resolve itself, protects everyone, including visitors who might not know where the nest is.
Wasps on your property in Sneinton?
Fixed price £95 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.