Do Wasps Return to the Same Nest Every Year? A Guide for Lawley Gardens
Most wasp problems begin quietly in spring, and a few minutes of looking at the right time can mean the difference between a small nest and a large one.
Why spring is the best time to look
In spring there is only a queen and a nest the size of a golf ball, if that. The workers have not yet arrived in numbers, and the colony is easy to deal with. By August the same nest may hold as many as 2,000 wasps.
Looking early takes little time, and it prevents surprises in the summer. It also fits with the fact that old nests are not reused. Every spring is a fresh start, so the checking has to be done afresh as well.
It is also worth knowing that early nests are not always visible. The queen builds inside a cavity, so what you see may only be a wasp going in and out of a gap, with the nest hidden within.
If you only have time for one check, make it the second week of April. It is early enough to catch a young nest and late enough for most queens to have settled on a site.
When to start and how often
Wasps start building nests in early April depending on how mild the spring is, so aim to do a first check in the last week of March or the first of April. A warm spell might bring things forward, while a cold one might put things back.
- Late March: look at last year’s nest sites and at sheltered gaps.
- Mid April: look again, especially after the first warm days.
- May: repeat every couple of weeks, covering all sides of the building.
- June and July: keep watching, as late nests are possible.
- August: be extra careful, as the colony is at its peak.
If you can, check after the middle of the day, when wasps are more active, and choose a calm, mild day. Cold or windy mornings are poor for spotting activity, and a nest can look quiet when it is not.
Write the dates in a calendar now so the checks do not slip. A reminder on your phone for every second Saturday is plenty.
Where to look
Think about what a queen wants: a dry, sheltered cavity. Start with the obvious places and then widen your search.
- eaves, soffits, fascia boards and roof edges
- airbricks, vents and gaps round pipes
- chimney breasts and the stack
- sheds, garages and the gap above a door
- trees, hedges, dense shrubs and the ground at the foot of walls
Look from the ground, using binoculars if needed. Never climb up to check a possible nest.
Do not forget the garage, the car port and any lean-to. These often escape notice because they are not part of the main house. A queen that favours dry shelter finds them as attractive as any loft.
Photograph anything you are unsure of from a distance with the zoom on a phone. A picture is easier to describe over the phone than words, and it lets you compare what you see from one visit to the next.
Keep a small torch and a pair of binoculars by the back door during April and May. Having them to hand makes it easy to take a quick look at a corner of the roof without climbing or leaning out of a window, and it turns checking into a habit.
What you are looking for
In the early weeks the signs are subtle. A single large wasp investigating a gap is likely to be a queen. A tiny grey structure, perhaps the size of a walnut, hanging in a corner is a new nest. Small numbers of wasps going in and out is the next clue.
Make a note of the location, the date, and what you saw. If you see more wasps on later visits, that is a growing colony. Do not poke, tap or spray, and do not try to pull a small nest down. Even a small nest is defended.
It helps to know what is normal. Bees, hoverflies and solitary insects all visit gaps and flowers in spring, so a single insect near a wall does not mean you have a nest. What matters is repeated, regular traffic at one point.
What not to do in spring
The temptation is to deal with a young nest yourself, since it looks small and manageable. The risks are the same as for a larger one, only less obvious. A disturbed nest sends workers out in numbers, and a queen defending her colony will sting.
Blocking an entrance, even with a bit of filler, sends the wasps elsewhere, perhaps into the building. If you are not sure whether a nest is active, watch it for a few minutes from a distance in the warmth of the day.
A child’s ball, a ladder or a bin lid left near a young nest can all disturb it. Keep the area around a suspected nest clear and warn the household so that nobody wanders over to look.
Help in Lawley
Treatment costs a flat £80 for each nest and the visit is guaranteed; a second nest on the same property comes to £40 extra. Nothing is added for call-out. Fully insured and qualified technicians serve Lawley and the villages around it every day of the week. Same-day service is available for urgent cases.
The booking line is 07916 322 280. Alternatively, use the online booking form. The form can be used for emergency service outside normal hours, and evening and weekend slots exist. Mention any allergy in the household when you book.
If your spring walk-round turns up a young nest, take a photograph from where you stand, note the date, and keep everyone away from that corner. A small nest is simple to treat and the booking takes only a few minutes.
Wasps on your property in Lawley?
Fixed price £80 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.