June 8th, 2023 by Shauna Hammond

While summer brings with it warmer weather, longer days and lots of other wonderful things, it is also unfortunately a time we see an increase in lots of insects and pests. One of the most common is wasps, you’ve probably encountered them buzzing around your back door or hanging out on your patio furniture, wasps can be a real pest and dealing with them can be tricky, especially with their tendency to sting when provoked and if you are unfortunate enough to have wasp make their nest in your home they can become even more difficult to deal with. Fortunately, there are a few ways to get rid of them safely and effectively so that you don't have to worry about any sudden disruptions while

Identify wasp nests.

The first thing to do is identify whether you have a wasp nest in your garden or if you just happen to have a lot of wasps in the area. There are a few signs that will present themselves if you do have a wasp’s nest in your home so it is fairly easy to tell. Wasps like to build their nests in trees, and bushes and you can also find them in the ground, attics or wall cavities in your home. If a nest is hidden away in the attic it can be a little more difficult to find, but here is what you should look out for that may indicate the presence of a nest:

·        The most obvious sign will be increased wasp activity in the area, you will notice a definite increase in the number of wasps but you may also notice that they are entering and leaving from a particular area.

·        Buzzing may be heard, this will obviously be much louder than if there are just one or two wasps present, if they are in your home you may hear them while inside the house that may seem like it is coming from inside the walls are ceiling.

·        Wasps build nests using various materials, including wood pulp, chewed plant fibres, or mud. If you notice small pieces of paper-like material, chewed wood, or mud-like structures around your property.

·        Aggressive behaviour – you may notice that wasps act even more aggressively when approaching certain areas, this may be because you are getting too close to their nest.

If you notice these signs there is a good chance that you may have a wasp’s nest so your next step before taking any further action is to try and locate where exactly the nest is. If you have a wasp nest in your yard, it's best to get rid of it as soon as possible. Wasps are territorial creatures and will defend their nests at all costs. If you see one, don't try to kill it--they're more likely to sting you if they feel threatened by something or someone outside their colony. Instead, call an exterminator who knows how to safely remove wasp nests without endangering humans or animals nearby.

Treating Wasps Nest

Once you have identified whether you have a wasp nest it’s time to start preparing for treatment – you can deal with this yourself or if you do not feel comfortable with it then you should contact a professional who will be able to assist you. However, if you do want to deal with it yourself here are the best steps to take:

Protect Yourself

Before you being it is important to protect yourself, wasps are very territorial and they can become aggressive if you get too close to their nest.  So, wear thick clothing, and ensure that you have long sleeves, full-length trousers, socks, gloves and closed-toe shoes, it is also recommended to wear a hat and a mask to be extra safe.

Prepare an insecticide

Before beginning ensure you have selected an insecticide specifically for killing wasps and then familiarise yourself with the instructions before beginning – insecticides with Pyrethrin are particularly effective as they also have a knockdown effect which means you won’t have to worry about wasps flying around as you treat the nest.   

Treating the Nest

It is important to also treat the nest as well as the surrounding wasps to effectively remove their presence while standing a safe distance away use the insecticide to fully cover the nest focusing in particular on the entrance. Try to purchase an insecticide that comes with a long nozzle as this will provide better precision while still allowing you to keep your distance.  If the nest is located in your home then be sure to secure any room they may have access to avoid them from entering every room in your home.

Observe the Nest

Once you have treated the area with insecticide, it is recommended to monitor the nest over the next day or two, to ensure you have successfully gotten rid of all the wasps, if you do notice continued activity then repeat the process. If after you have treated the nest again and the problem continues to persist we would recommend contacting a professional.

Seal Entrances

Once you are certain the area is clear of wasps it is crucial that you then proceed to seal any entry points that may grant access to your home in order to prevent further infestation. Carefully seal any cracks or openings.

Know When to Contact A Professional

While it can be tempting to deal with a nest yourself in a way to save money and perhaps deal with the problem more quickly it is important to know when you should defer the task to a professional.

If there is anyone with a known allergy in the home, we do not recommend dealing with the nest yourself, instead call a professional and spent some time away from the home while it is being treated.

If the nest persists after multiple treatments contact a professional as there may be a reason you are not aware of as to why your treatments are not working – plus a professional will have access to more powerful insecticides that can deal with the issue more quickly. 

If the nest is not located somewhere accessible, don’t try to deal with it yourself – you should never put yourself in a dangerous situation.

Can I deter Wasps?

Now that you have treated the issue, then it is very likely you do not want to have to go through this process again – and while wasps will not return to a dead nest the following year there are some other things you can do in order to prevent them from returning or being attracted to your home in the first place.

Use A Wasp Trap

You can make your home less desirable for wasps by placing wasp traps around your home – you can either make your own using an old soda bottle and create bait by mixing something sweet like jam or sugar with water or you can easily purchase pre-baited wasp traps.

Don't Leave Food in The Open

Try to avoid leaving food out in the open, we know this can be easier said than done when you want to enjoy a picnic or BBQ outdoors in the nice weather – however, this food will attract wasps as well as other insects so try to keep food covered and remove empty plates sooner rather than later.

Fake Wasp Nests

You can also find decoy nests to try and deter wasps, however since different species make nests in different places there is much debate about whether this is an effective measure or not.

If you're dealing with wasps, don't panic! We know for many they can be quite scary due to their aggressive nature, however, as you can see there are some simple ways to deter them and treat the presence of a nest. It is important to remember that you should always approach with caution and know when it is time to get a professional service involved!