Signs of wasp nests

If you are experiencing high numbers of wasps in or around your business, there is likely a nest either on your property or very close by.

It is best to treat a nest earlier in the year before populations increase and the wasps become more aggressive. This will help to reduce the threat of wasp stings, which can be very painful and even cause an allergic reaction.

Identifying a wasp or hornet nest

• Paper wasps - build open and exposed nests that resemble an upside-down umbrella. These nests can get quite large late in the season, and adult wasps will readily sting if they sense danger approaching. Some wasps build new nests on top of old nests, giving the false impression that they are reusing a nest.

• Yellow jackets - build nests that are surrounded by a papery covering and are commonly found within wall voids or cavities in the ground. When disturbed, yellow jackets are quite aggressive and can attack in large numbers. Yellow jackets are typically most aggressive in late summer, leading to an increase in yellow jacket stings.

• Bald-faced hornets - build nests that are covered in a papery shell and European hornets build their nests in natural cavities like tree stumps, or in cavities of buildings.

• Mud daubers - construct nests using mud or clay. The nests are small, tubular mud chutes usually built either in existing cracks or crevices in masonry, stone or timber around businesses, sheds and garages.

Locating nests

The best way to manage wasps and a wasp nest is to be able to identify and locate the nest.

• A wasp nest is made from chewed wood that gives them their distinctive papery walls, with the exception of mud daubers that use clay or mud.

• Queen wasps build small nests in the spring and lay the first batch of eggs. These quickly develop into workers that soon take over nest-building activities for the remainder of the season.

• To locate the nest, watch the flight path of returning wasps. If the nest is near the home, keep nearby windows closed. If you suspect the nest is in your attic or in a wall it is then almost always best to call a professional exterminator.

• Common sites for wasp or hornet nests include under the roof eaves, behind shutters or in garden sheds.

How big can a wasp nest be?

At first, a wasp nest will start off very small. When a queen wasp starts to build a nest in spring, it is usually about the size of a walnut or golf ball. As summer progresses the nest will grow rapidly in size, as the number of wasps increases. A nest can become the size of a basketball, or even bigger in some cases.

Worried about a wasp or hornet nest?

You should not attempt to treat a nest if you are sensitive to stings. If you disturb a nest, you may provoke the wasps inside to attack and sting you as a form of defense.

At Rentokil, we offer a professional wasp nest treatment service to protect you from harmful stings. Our specialists are fully trained and equipped with all necessary safety gear to complete the treatment quickly and safely.

We can also arrange for the removal of a nest (at a later date; at least 48 hours after treatment to allow for scout wasps to return and be killed) to reduce the risk of a secondary infestation.

Find out how you can help to deter wasps and prevent nests on your property. Contact Rentokil free at 1-855-633-6260 for further information on how to get rid of wasps or to arrange for a visit by a specialist.