Why Are Wasps Flying Into Your Allscott Home? Common Causes and Solutions
As summer ends, wasps lose their purpose and become more desperate for sugar, which is why they seem bolder and appear indoors more often in September.
Why autumn feels worse
Many people notice that wasps are at their most annoying in late summer and early autumn. They cling to ice creams, hover over bins and wander into houses. That is not your imagination. The colony reaches its peak in August, after which the work of the nest begins to change.
As the season turns, workers no longer have as many grubs to feed. They stop bringing home protein and seek out sugar for themselves. This sends them to fruit, sweet drinks and any sticky surface, including those indoors.
Warm autumn days make matters worse. After a cool week, a sunny afternoon brings wasps out in numbers, and a house with open windows receives more than its share. They are not planning to nest in your home; they are looking for something sweet.
This is also the time of year when orchards, gardens and hedgerows hold fruit that has fallen and fermented, which sends wasps further afield in search of sugar.
What is happening to the nest
The colony does not last for ever. Towards the end of the year the nest declines, the workers die off and new queens leave to find a place to spend the winter. Allscott homes face the same seasonal pattern as anywhere else.
This means that the wasps you see in autumn may be the remains of a nest that is slowing down. They can be restless and more likely to sting than in early summer. They may also settle on a window pane, wander across a ceiling or drop into a drink.
Even so, the decline is not instant. A nest with a few thousand wasps in early September may still be dangerous, and it can take weeks for activity to fade. A first frost is often what ends it, but that cannot be predicted.
Because the end of the season is unpredictable, do not rely on the weather to solve the problem for you.
There is another aspect to this. Wasps that live in an old nest that is in decline do not always remain near it. Some drift away to look for sugar, and their journeys can bring them into properties some distance from the nest. A house with no nest of its own can therefore have wasps in it.
Think of a visit by autumn wasps as a sign of the season and not necessarily a sign of a problem in your own building.
Keeping them out in September and October
Reduce the draw. Clear fallen fruit from the garden, cover bins and rinse drink containers. Wipe sticky patches and keep food covered when you eat outdoors. Windows can stay open if screens are fitted, but a gap with no mesh lets in anything that is looking for a drink.
If a wasp lands on you, stay still or brush it away gently instead of swatting. Walk away from the area calmly.
Windows are the key. If you want fresh air, open a window on the side away from the nest or food source, and close it in the evening. Fit mesh if you can. Keep curtains drawn when a window is open at night and the light is on.
Small habits help. Rinse your cup of tea before leaving it, since sweetened tea is an attraction, and put the sugar bowl away after use. Keep jam, honey and marmalade lids tightly closed. Wipe the table after breakfast rather than leaving it until later.
Check pockets, bags and coats left on chairs. A half-eaten sweet or a drinks bottle can attract a wasp into the hall.
When late-season wasps mean a nest
Not every autumn wasp comes from a large active nest, but a steady flow of wasps entering a wall or eaves is still a sign of one. The nest may remain active until colder weather arrives, and a mild spell can keep it going.
Look for the same signs as at any time of year: a flight line to a gap, buzzing within a wall, or wasps repeatedly appearing in one room. If you see any of these, ring for advice and keep clear of the area.
A single stray wasp in a room is no cause for alarm, but a trickle of them for several days in a row, at the same time, is. Note the details and ring for advice.
Pay attention to the position of the activity. Wasps clustering at fruit trees in the garden are feeding, while wasps travelling to a hole in the wall are nesting. The two look different once you know what to look for.
Keep windows closed near any area where you have seen a flight line, and avoid disturbing the wall.
Queens and the winter
In late autumn you may find a single large wasp in the loft, a shed or a quiet corner. This can be a queen seeking a sheltered spot. Do not disturb her, but do not leave windows or hatches open to give her a route in.
Sealing gaps at this time of year reduces the number of sheltered places on offer in spring, when nests begin in early April. It is worth checking eaves, vents and window frames.
A queen is much bigger than a worker and tends to move slowly. If you find one indoors, open a window or door and guide her out with a card and a glass, or leave her alone. She is not building a nest at that time of year, but she will seek out a place to sleep.
Booking a visit
A nest treatment is a fixed £80 flat, and one visit is guaranteed. An additional nest on the same property is £40 more, and there is no call-out charge. Call 07916 322 280 or use the online booking form. We are open seven days a week and offer same-day service, with evening and weekend appointments available.
Customers can contact the business for a quote at any point in the season. The price is fixed, so there is no reason to delay if you are worried.
Technicians are fully insured and qualified, and cover homes and commercial premises. We are open seven days a week, so a weekend or evening slot is possible if you cannot be at home during the working day.
Wasps on your property in Allscott?
Fixed price £80 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.