Why Are Wasps Flying Into Your Berrington Home? Common Causes and Solutions
Outdoor meals and pet bowls draw wasps close to the door, and once they are close it is a short flight into the house.
Eating outside, wasps inside
Summer meals in the garden are one of the great pleasures of the season, and one of the commonest reasons that wasps reach the house. A table covered in drinks, burgers and pudding smells irresistible, and the wasps that arrive are only a few seconds from the back door.
Berrington gardens used for parties and family lunches are no different from others. The solution is to manage the food and not to give up the meal.
The same applies to a quiet cup of tea on the patio. A saucer of biscuits or a sugar bowl is enough to attract attention, and it only takes one wasp to find its way to the kitchen. Wasps that learn there is food on offer will come back day after day.
Late summer is the peak of the trouble. By August the colony is at its largest, and the number of workers searching for food rises with it.
Dining outside also brings the occasional crowd of guests who are nervous about wasps. A calm host who has taken sensible steps helps everyone relax and discourages swatting.
Barbecue habits
Meat juices and sauces are a major draw, especially in late summer when wasps look for protein and sugar. Keep food covered until the moment it is served, and use lids over serving dishes.
Simple steps:
- cover salads, fruit and desserts with a net or lid
- pour drinks into cups with lids or use straws, and check before sipping
- clear plates immediately and wipe down the table
- keep a bin with a closed lid close to the cooking area
- put out nothing sticky such as jam or syrup unless it is covered
After the meal, wipe the table and bring everything indoors rather than leaving it to sit in the sun.
A good tip is to serve food in portions instead of putting everything out together. A table that holds only what people are eating at that moment gives wasps far less to find. Return leftovers to the kitchen at once.
Keep drinks in a cool bag or fridge and pour as needed. A can left open on the table is a trap for the unwary, and a wasp inside a can is easily swallowed by mistake.
Pet bowls and food
Dog and cat bowls, especially those with wet food, smell strongly to wasps. If you feed pets outside, pick up the bowls as soon as they have finished and wash them. Do not leave a bowl on the step by the back door.
Be careful with pet treats and chews left in the garden. A wasp can be inside a bag or box before you notice. If a pet is stung, particularly around the mouth or face, contact your vet.
Pets that eat outdoors are best fed inside during the wasp season. A cat bowl left overnight will smell strongly the next morning. Wash bowls with hot water and dry them before putting them back.
If you keep chickens or other animals, store feed in sealed containers. Open feed attracts wasps and other insects.
Keeping the doorway clear
Once wasps have been drawn to the patio, they investigate nearby openings. Keep the back door closed during and after the meal, or use a mesh screen. Move chairs and tables a few metres from the door so the food smell does not drift directly inside.
A sticky doormat, a puddle of lemonade or a smear of ketchup on the step can lead them in. Rinse the area after the meal.
Think about where you put the barbecue. A site well away from the back door means the smells drift away from the house. Fan-assisted outdoor heaters and candles can also help keep air moving. Avoid placing the bin directly beside the door.
When you light the barbecue, keep children and pets away from the cooking area and the bin area, where wasps gather.
When wasps remain after the food is gone
If wasps continue to arrive in numbers when no food is out, they may be coming from a nest. Watch for them flying in a line to a gap in the wall, roof or shed. By August a single colony may contain up to 2,000 wasps.
There is no call-out charge, and treatment is £80 fixed for each nest, with one visit guaranteed. Should there be a further nest on your property, it adds £40 extra. Technicians are fully insured and qualified, and domestic and commercial customers are both covered.
Before a big event, take a few minutes to check the garden. Look at the sheds, the roof edge and the hedges for signs of a nest. If you find one, arrange treatment before your guests arrive, not after. Same-day service is available, and evening and weekend appointments are offered.
If wasps seem to follow you from the table to the house, take a moment after the meal to look at where they came from. A clear flight line to the same spot in the garden, the roof or a hedge deserves a closer look from a safe distance.
Booking
Ring 07916 322 280 or use the online form on the contact page. Every day is a working day for us, with same-day service where possible and appointments in the evening or at weekends. If you are planning an event, such as a party or a christening in the garden, tell us the date when you book.
Customers can contact the business for a quote and booking at any point, and the price stays the same whether the nest is in the shed, the roof or the ground.
Wasps on your property in Berrington?
Fixed price £80 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.