Do Wasps Return to the Same Nest Every Year? A Guide for Myddle Gardens
Outbuildings give queens everything they like, and a shed that held a nest once is worth checking each spring even though the old colony is long gone.
Why outbuildings suit a queen
A garden shed or garage is dry, rarely disturbed and full of small gaps. The roof felt lifts at the edges, door frames shrink and warp, and there is often a pile of boxes or timber along one wall. For a queen looking for a place to start a nest in early April, it is close to ideal.
Because the building is used only occasionally, the first signs of a nest often go unnoticed. You might open the door in June and be surprised by a steady line of wasps coming past your head.
None of this means the old colony has moved back in. A nest from last year is an empty shell, and the queen who starts a nest this year is a new arrival who simply liked the same features.
Items stored in a shed make it more attractive still. Cardboard boxes, old curtains and bags of potting compost provide soft, sheltered corners, and they are rarely moved from one season to the next.
Finding last year’s nest
Winter is a sensible time to clear and inspect outbuildings. A nest left from the summer tends to be found under a roof, in a corner of the ceiling, in a gap behind shelving or among stored items. It looks grey and papery, often in layers, and it is quiet.
Wait until you have had several cold days before you look, and be sure there is no movement. Gloves help. If the nest is dry, empty and light, it can be lifted out and bagged. If you are uncertain, leave it alone and ask a technician.
- Look in roof corners and above the door.
- Check behind shelving, tool racks and bags of compost.
- Look at the underside of any work bench.
- Check under any covers or tarpaulins.
Tidying so the shed is less appealing
Take the opportunity of a winter clear-out to make the building less inviting. Remove piles of old material that touch the walls. Store items on shelves or pallets instead of on the floor, leaving space so you can see the wall behind.
Look at the building from outside as well. Patch holes in felt, fill gaps around the door frame with suitable material, and replace damaged boards. Do any work at height with care, and leave it to a tradesperson if it needs a ladder over a few rungs.
Keep the shed door closed when you are not using it. A building left open all summer is far more likely to hold a nest than one that is shut.
Think about lighting and doors too. A shed with a gap under the door lets in air and insects, while one that closes snugly is harder to enter. A strip of draught excluder or a new threshold is a modest job that makes a real difference.
Checking before you go in
From April onwards, take a moment before you open the door. Watch from a distance for a minute or two for wasps flying in and out of the roof or the frame. Listen at the door for a buzzing sound. If you see or hear anything, leave it closed.
The same applies to the garage, the log store and the summerhouse. Do not rush in to fetch a tool on a warm afternoon without looking. A disturbed nest in a confined space leaves you very little room to get out.
If you must go into the shed regularly in summer, do so at the cooler ends of the day, move calmly, and keep the door ajar behind you so that you can leave quickly. Move slowly past any shelving that sits near the roof.
Children who use a playhouse or a den in the garden should be taught to look before they enter.
If you find wasps inside
Back out slowly, shut the door and keep others away. Do not spray, swat or block the gap. Leave the nest alone, and avoid the building until it has been treated.
Wasps start building in early April depending on the weather, and a nest in an outbuilding in August may hold as many as 2,000 wasps. It is not a job for home remedies. If you are stung, wash the area, remove any visible sting and apply a cold pack, and call 999 if the face, lips or throat swell, breathing is difficult, or you feel dizzy or develop a widespread rash.
Do not shut the door on wasps and then ignore the building. Leave the door as it is and keep people away, so the technician can see where the wasps are going. Tell visitors and neighbours so that nobody opens the door by accident.
If anyone has been stung, follow the usual first-aid steps and watch them for a while. People with a known allergy should speak to their GP.
Booking help in Myddle
For £80 per nest, fixed, you get a guaranteed single visit, and a neighbouring nest on the same property is priced at £40 extra. No fee is added for the visit itself. Fully insured and qualified, the technicians visit Myddle and its surrounding villages seven days a week. Same-day appointments are offered.
Ring 07916 322 280 for a quote and booking. The online form is there if you would rather write. Appointments in the evening and at weekends are available; emergencies out of hours can use the form. Children and pets should stay indoors while the work is done.
Make sure the technician can reach the shed or garage. If the building is locked, say who has the key, and keep the area around the door clear so that the visit goes smoothly and quickly.
Wasps on your property in Myddle?
Fixed price £80 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.