Wasps

Wasps can be notoriously aggressive pests, particularly during late summer. Unlike bees, wasps can sting multiple times causing severe allergic reactions or worse. As such, wasps can present a significant danger to those attempting to remove nests by themselves.

 

As with most pests, Wasps are easier to treat when the nest is small and easily accessible. As they grow in size, the risk increases, with some of the largest nest containing 5000+ wasps.

 

At Squeak-a-Boo Pest Management we recommend that wasp removal is left to the professionals and advise against DIY treatments.

 

Wasps or Bees?

It can be really easy to mistake bees for wasps, particularly at a distance. Up close bees can bees can usual be distinguished from wasps due to the presence of hairs between their thorax and abdomen.

 

Further away, the difference can be determined by watching their behavior with some bee species swarming while wasps do not.

 

Whist not protected, we prefer not to treat bees unless they present a significant risk to public health. Swarms will typically move on in a few days whereas established nests can often be removed by bee keepers.   

 

What about hornets?

The UK is home to a couple of hornet species which can be easily distinguished to wasps by their sheer size. These can be treated in a similar way to wasps.

 

A third but much less common species, the Asian Hornet – Vespa velutina, is also resent in some areas including parts of Somerset. These are principally designable from other hornets due to their coloring and must be reported if discovered so that they can be treated by a specialist team.

 

How do we treat wasps?

Squeak-a-Boo Pest Management employ a number of methods for treating wasps nests which are dependent upon their size and location.

 

For small nests that are easy to access we are likely to employ non-toxic methods including freezing.

 

For larger nests or those that are less accessible, we will typically use a powder or other insecticide based treatment applied directly to the nest or to access points close by. This is applied in a safe and controlled manner. 

 

Where possible we will remove nests after treatment so as to minimize the chances of a secondary pest issue such as from moths. Note that wasps will no re-inhabit abandoned nests although fledgling queens may establish nests near by the following year.

 

Should all wasps nests be treated?

Wasps can play a beneficial role in managing other pests in our gardens and as such their removal should realistically only be undertaken if they pose, or are likely to pose in the near future, a risk to public health.

 

Squeak-a-boo can help advise you on whether to treat a nest or leave it in place.

 

How much does wasp treatment cost?

Compared to some species, wasp nests relatively simple to treat. As such we are able to be very competitive with our pricing in most cases and are often able to treat more than one nest during our visit if needed for small charge.

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