Removing a Wasp’s Nest – some tips
Removing a wasp nest is something that should be done by a professional pest control company due to the fact Wasp stings are not a pleasant experience.
Also, to control a wasp problem, you’ll often need chemicals and insecticides. And to use these requires training and sometimes qualifications.
So what ever you do, don’t remove the wasp’s nest yourself.
How a professional pest company would go about removing a wasp’s nest
Ideally, nests should be treated early in the morning or late in the evening when wasp activity is at a minimum and the nest is likely to contain most of the wasp population. The application of an insecticidal dust in and around the entrance of the nest with a Gaspot, or a dust applicator is effective treatment and returning workers will carry dust further into the nest. They are convenient, ready to use insecticides that are white and odourless, ideal for removing and controlling wasps where people work and live.
Alternatively, a labeled water dispersible powder or liquid insecticide can be applied with a pnuematic sprayer fitted with a pinstream nozzle. Their residual activities can extend to many weeks in dry conditions and the product will not taint even the most sensitive of surfaces.
When applying liquid insecticides, the nest entrance should be soaked first, along with the area immediately around it followed by application ino the nest. Appropriate personal protection equipment should be worn and people kept away during the insecticidal application.
A one handed aerosol wasp nest destroyer, with a far-reaching accurate jet is available for removing wasp nests from areas that are hard to access, such as roof-spaces or when a ladder is needed.
Myths Surrounding Removing Wasp Nests
A Wasp Nest Problem
Removing a wasp nest, should be handled by a trained professional. It’s a no-brainer when you think that each wasp can contain as many as ten thousand angry wasps.
If you try and remove the nest yourself, you only need to anger one wasp and the whole clan will come looking for you. This is because a wasp emits a ‘help me’ pheromone when they feel threatened and this attracts all their stinging colonie mates.
After thinking about the problems of DIY wasp nest removal, I took a look around the internet at some of the bizarre ways people are told how to remove a wasp nest.
Before you start reading these, please understand – these wasp removal methods are dangerous and in no way recommended. Do not try them. Ever.
- - Spray the wasp nest with water.
- - Mow your lawn regularly to remove dandelions which wasps are attracted to.
- - Hit the wasp nest with a cricket bat until it is destroyed.
- - Wait until night and then remove the wasp and put it somewhere else.
- - Remove the nest and place it in the freezer to kill the wasps.
As you can tell. This is not what we call professional wasp removal advice. Some of these methods are simply ludicrous, others just plain dangerous and irresponsible.
Professional Advice On How To Remove A Wasp Nest
The first piece of advice we’d give is treat the problem early on. This makes it quick, simple and cheap to remove a wasp nests. Use the other posts on this blog to see how to spot a wasp nest problem. And then call us for a free site survey.
Simple. And you won’t need to worry about empting your freezer or getting your lawnmover serviced !!
Pest Control In Brighton – Your Frequently Asked Questions
Pest control, as you can appreciate, is a complicated subject. There are so many different types of pests, an endless array of locations you’ll find them in and a whole raft of problems they cause.
But out of all the questions we receive, there are some that come up more often than others.
Frequently Asked Pest Control Questions
Pest Control Brighton FAQs
If you have a question that’s not answered here, get in touch, we’ll answer it for you and then post the answer on our website.
Wasp Problems In Brighton: The Countdown Has Started
As you’ll know from the other posts about wasp problems in Brighton on this site, the time is rapidly approaching when those hibernating queen wasps are starting to think about coming out of their winter hide-outs and building their new nets.
So you should take the next couple of weeks to get as much information about the yellow and black pests as you can. Here are some links to pages on our site for you to get started:
Pest Control Techniques For Removing Wasps
Rats And Rodent Pest Control: Why Rats Are A Problem In Lewes & Brighton
Rat Problem In Brighton
Rats and rodents are a pest and a nasty disease spreading problem for most major cities. Lewes and Brighton are no different. There are rats and mice and other rodents scurrying around us all the time.
To help you get a better understanding of the problems rats and other rodent pests cause, we’ve put together a very useful page on rodent pest control.
You can learn a bit more about rats, mice, the diseases they spread and how they can be controlled by clicking the link below.
Learn more about rodent pest control in Lewes, Brighton
Mole Problems In Brighton: A Valuable Resource.
We believe in removing a mole problem the traditional way. And for this reason, we’re a member of the Mole Catcher’s Guild.
To get a better understand of what makes the traditional methods the best way to get rid of a mole problem, take a look at the latest newsletter from the Mole Catcher’s Guild.
Mole Catcher’s Newsletter. (pdf 248kb)
Mole Population Booms Across Sussex
I get asked the same question nearly every time I get to a job: “Where do all these moles come from?”
As they are many other things, the exceptionally wet and mild winters we have experienced in recent years are to blame. We may have had half a dozen snow falls in the last four months and been told that it has been the coldest February for 30 years, but the pervading dampness have without doubt led to an increase in the mole population across Sussex.
Reasons Why The Mole Problem In Sussex Has Increased?
Other reasons have also played a part in the increases of the ‘the little Gentleman in Black Velvet’.
- Mole catching as a tradition is fast fading away and the expertise required to keep the population in routine check is going with it
- Large profit hungry pest control companies have a short term ‘management, not eradication’ approach that clears a customer’s property for the time being, but not permanently
- Use of Aluminium Phosphide
To find out where the mole has come from you have to ask yourself a few questions.
- Next door’s property. Have a look over the neighbour’s fence – the mole maybe living in your neighbour’s property and feeding in yours….
- Is it breeding season?
- Is it the time of year when young moles are starting to create their own territories?
The geography, topography and climate of Sussex are heaven to the mole, and we should accept their presence as being a natural part of our part of the world. However, keep their numbers is in check, in a humane and discreet way, is possible.
In January I had a call from a sheep farmer (Hare Farm Brede, East Sussex) about the increase of mole on his land and asking the same question “where did they all come from”. He said “For years I’ve lived with a few moles on my land and they’ve never been a problem however this year I’m now breeding more moles than sheep”.
“I’m very proud of my land and the way I looked after it. Now it just looks untidy”
On the phone I had to laugh after he said “I hope you’re not one of them pest controllers in a white van”.
I arrived at his 500 hectare sheep farm for a site survey; he obviously had ideas about my white van. However I gained his confidence with experience and knowledge of the best approach and we settled on a price. One thing I’ve learnt about charging per mole is by charging this way its proof that as a mole catcher you “can talk the talk and walk the walk”
Over the 5 days using spring traps 85 moles have been removed, and as result of that a one very happy sheep farmer.
What To Do If You Have A Mole Problem?
Our ‘no mole, no fee’ policy means if you’ve got a mole problem and we don’t fix it, it doesn’t cost you a penny.
So the first thing you should do is call us and arrange a free site survey.
Mole population booms across Sussex
I get asked the same question nearly every time I get to a job: “Where do all these moles come from?”
As they are many other things, the exceptionally wet and mild winters we have experienced in recent years are to blame. We may have had half a dozen snow falls in the last four months and been told that it has been the coldest February for 30 years, but the pervading dampness have without doubt led to an increase in the mole population across Sussex.
Other reasons have also played a part in the increases of the ‘the little Gentleman in Black Velvet’.
-
Mole catching as a tradition is fast fading away and the expertise required to keep the population in routine check is going with it
-
Large profit hungry pest control companies have a short term ‘management, not eradication’ approach that clears a customer’s property for the time being, but not permanently
-
Use of Aluminium Phosphide
To find out where the mole has come from you have to ask yourself a few questions.
-
Next door’s property. Have a look over the neighbour’s fence – the mole maybe living in your neighbour’s property and feeding in yours….
-
Is it breeding season?
-
Is it the time of year when young moles are starting to create their own territories?
The geography, topography and climate of Sussex are heaven to the mole, and we should accept their presence as being a natural part of our part of the world. However, keep their numbers is in check, in a humane and discreet way, is possible.
In January I had a call from a sheep farmer (Hare Farm Brede, East Sussex) about the increase of mole on his land and asking the same question “where did they all come from”. He said “For years I’ve lived with a few moles on my land and they’ve never been a problem however this year I’m now breeding more moles than sheep”.
“I’m very proud of my land and the way I looked after it. Now it just looks untidy”
On the phone I had to laugh after he said “I hope you’re not one of them pest controllers in a white van”.
I arrived at his 500 hectare sheep farm for a site survey; he obviously had ideas about my white van. However I gained his confidence with experience and knowledge of the best approach and we settled on a price. One thing I’ve learnt about charging per mole is by charging this way its proof that as a mole catcher you “can talk the talk and walk the walk”
Over the 5 days using spring traps 85 moles have been removed, and as result of that a one very happy sheep farmer.
The Root Cause Of A Wasp Problem
Wasp problems in Brighton are seasonal. During the summer months wasps are a problem right through Sussex. But as the weather gets colder the pest problem goes away.
Why’s this?
The cold winter kills all the worker wasps.
But how do they come back the next year?
The truth is they don’t. Just the queen does. She spends the winter months hibernating in her empty nest, or a purpose built hibernation nest. And when the spring comes, she starts looking for a new nest location and starts building a family all over again.
So how do you spot a queen wasp?
The queen was is the first you’ll see. She comes out looking for a new nest in the spring, around early April. She looks just like an ordinary wasp: vivid black and yellow warning coloured stripes, a triangular shaped head and the vicious sting. She’s just bigger.
A queen wasp can be between 2 and 2.5cm in length. Here’s a picture to help you:
The Queen Wasp
If you spot a queen wasp hanging around your property, give us a call and we can arrange a free site visit to assess your wasp problem and then show you the best way to have a pest free summer!
How To Spot You’ve Got A Problem Wasp Nest
A Wasp Nest Problem
Wasp nests are a problem because as you know, they can contain up to 10,000 wasps!
Obviously a wasp’s nest doesn’t just appear. It takes a whole summer of building. So here’s a quick guide to help you spot you’ve got a wasp nest being built in your property.
Where Do Wasps Build Their Nests?
The bad news is that a wasp colony never reuses a nest. At the end of the summer, the nest is abandoned by all but the Queen wasp, who stays and hibernates until the next spring. She will then go in search of a new location in which to build her new nest.
The Queen wasp will start building her new nest in anywhere from wall cavities, roof voids or outbuildings. Unfortunately for those of you that live in Sussex, places like Brighton have these in obundance!
What Are Wasp Nests Built From?
Paper-making wasps like yellowjackets and white-faced black hornets have powerful enough jaws to bite and pull off little chunks of wood from fences and other boards. The wood reacts with the wasp’s saliva, softening and turning into a pastey pulp. At the nest site, the wasp releases the pulp and uses its front feet to pat the pulp like a putty onto the nest in careful layers.
Wasp Nest Architecture
The wasps make the outside of the nest harder, like a shell. This part is waterproof. Inside are rows of little individual oval cells stacked on top of each other like apartments in a high-rise building. Each layer connects to a strong vertical core that attaches at the top to the branch or beam from which the whole nest hangs. Each cell opens on the same side and slants down. The door to the whole nest is always a hole at the bottom.
Wasp Nest Form Follows Function
The queen wasp lays one egg in each cell of the nest. It sticks to the paper so even with the downward slant of the cell’s opening, the egg won’t fall out. The larvae hatch and stay put in the cells. They don’t fall out, either, because they have a sticky back end that keeps them in. They put out their heads so that the worker wasps will feed them. When a nest needs to get bigger, the wasps cut a section of the interior paper and then attach new sections to the outside.
How To Spot A Wasp Nest
In the beginning, the wasp’s nest is only about the size of a golf ball or a tennis ball. The outside is covered with swirling patterns, probably caused by the wasps as they move over the structure.
As the nest can be so small, it is often difficult to spot it on its own. The best way to determine if there’s a wasp’s nest in your property is to spot the wasps.
Take a very slow walk around your property looking for wasps going in and out of a single entrance hole every 2-4 seconds. This will indicate a nest 4-6 inches behind this hole.
What Do You Do If You Spot A Wasp’s Nest?
Bearing in mind there could be a couple of thousand wasps in there, you shouldn’t go prodding around. The last thing you want is to disturb the nest and encourage the wasps to start defending their position with stings!
Instead, call us for a free site survey and we’ll show you how to remove your wasp problem safely and quickly.
Why Wasps Are Such A Problem – They Sting!
Wasps wouldn’t be such a problem if they didn’t come with a nasty sting. You could probably put up with the buzzing noise, couldn’t you?
The sting, however, is a different problem all together.
The Wasp Stinger
Picture the scene: You’re out in Brighton, sitting out in your back garden enjoying the sunshine with your family. All of a sudden your peace and tranquility is shattered with a gut-wrenching scream from your youngest child.
They’ve been stung by a wasp.
You know full well this means swelling, intense pain and hours and hours of screaming!
Now you can appreciate why wasps are such a problem! And one that need to be controlled.
So let’s take a closer look at the dreaded wasp sting, what it involves and how you can treat it.
There are two frightening facts about wasp stings.
1. Unlike bee’s, Wasps can sting you again and again and again. Their stinger is smooth and can be used repeated without hurting the wasp. (Due to the Bee’s barbed sting, it is a one-shot deal.)
2. The Wasp’s venom contains a pheromone that attracts other Wasps. It is a very clever defense mechanism. If a wasp stings you it feels threatened. So when it feels threatened it’s venom calls in backup. So remember that a wasp nest can contain up to 10,000 wasps and that’s a lot of angry stingers coming looking for you.
How Does The Wasp Sting?
When a wasp stings you, it will curl its abdomen to point its tip, containing the stinger, toward you. It will then use its abdominal muscles to push its stinger deep into your flesh.
At the same time, the wasp will squeeze venom from a small sac inside its body throught the stinger into your flesh. The quantity of venom isn’t very much, and only a fraction of what a bee sting delivers, but that’s because a wasp can sting you a good few times before you’ve had chance to swat it away.
How To Treat A Wasp Sting
There are some traditional methods of treating a wasp sting. As the wasp’s venom is Akalinic, it is believed that washing the affected area with an acid (such as vinegar) will neutralise the venom and stop the pain.
However, as the venom is made up of many different chemicals, it is unlikely to stop all the pain. Also as the venom is delivered deep into your flesh, it is unlikely that washing the skin with vinegar will get to the area that’s in pain.
Instead, reduce the pain and swelling by using an icepack. Don’t apply the ice directly to the skin. Wrap it in a cloth first. Then to relieve the pain, normally an antihistamin, or an ibuprofen will do the trick.
Please understand the tips in this article should not be a substitute for medical advice from a doctor.
Controlling A Wasp Problem Before It Starts Is Much Safer
Take a look at the other wasp and wasp control content on this site to familiarise yourself with what a wasp problem looks like.
If you think your property has a wasps’ nest or is suffering from a wasp problem, please contact us
Our free site survey service will show you where you have a potential wasp problem and, where needed, can remove the problem altogether.
