Are Wasps Dangerous? Understanding Stings and Nest Disturbance in Bletsoe
Not every wasp nest is under the eaves. Ground nests are hidden in plain sight, and walkers, gardeners and dogs often find them the hard way.
A nest you can step on
Wasps often nest in disused burrows, banks, compost heaps and the roots of old trees. The entrance may be only a few centimetres across, and long grass can hide it completely. The first sign is sometimes a wasp or two flying low over the ground, or a stream of them rising from a single spot in the lawn or verge.
The danger is accidental. A foot, a spade or a lawn tool goes through the entrance, and the colony responds at once. Bletsoe is in Bedfordshire, and many gardens, paddocks and footpaths have patches of rough grass where this can happen.
Treat any small hole with wasps entering and leaving as a nest entrance until you know otherwise.
Compost heaps are a favourite. They are warm, loose and sheltered, and a gardener turning one with a fork can disturb a colony in a moment. If you find wasps at the heap, leave it alone and do not turn it.
Old rodent burrows, gaps under paving and spaces beneath sheds are also used. After rain, an entrance may look muddy or newly dug, which is a clue.
Telling a ground nest from other holes
- Wasps flying in a line to the same hole, repeatedly.
- Fine soil or a worn bare patch around the entrance.
- A faint hum from the ground on a warm day.
- Wasps flying low in a busy cluster above a small area.
- A greater number in the afternoon heat.
Other insects dig holes in the ground, including solitary bees that nest in lawns. These tend to be few in number, with each coming and going alone. If you suspect bees, contact a local beekeeper or the relevant bee organisation; this company treats wasps only.
Look from a distance on a warm, dry afternoon. Early morning and late evening can mislead because wasps are less active in the cool. A hole that appears empty at seven in the morning may be busy at two. If you are not sure, watch again later in the day rather than moving closer.
Wearing sturdy footwear and trousers on rough ground, not sandals, is a simple precaution in late summer.
What provokes a ground nest
Stamping or running nearby, mowing, strimming, digging and raking can all shake the nest. So can dogs digging at the entrance. Pouring water or other liquids into the hole, or covering it with a slab, is a recipe for trouble, because wasps will either pour out in force or dig an alternative exit.
Never block an entrance while a nest is active. The wasps will search for another way out, and in a garden near a building that can be through a wall or an air brick.
Footpaths and fields are a special case. If a nest is on a public path or someone else’s land, tell the owner or the person responsible for the path, and steer other walkers away if you can do so safely. The company can treat wasp nests at domestic and commercial premises, so ask when you ring.
Marking the spot safely
If you find one, back away slowly and quietly. From a distance, mark the area with a visible object such as a cane or a cone placed well away from the entrance, not on it. Tell everyone who uses the space. Keep dogs on a lead and children out until the nest has been treated.
Do not try to see how big the nest is by looking closely. A colony can hold as many as 2,000 wasps by August, and wasps can swarm and sting if threatened.
Dogs on a walk may find a nest before you do. Keep them on a lead through rough grass in late summer, and call them back quickly if they stop and sniff at one spot.
Think about visitors to the land as well. A delivery driver, a friend or a contractor who has not been told about the nest is the one most likely to find it by accident, so say something before they arrive.
If you are stung
Walk away from the nest, wash the area, remove any sting you can see and use a cold pack. For swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheeze or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash, call 999. This is general guidance, and a doctor or pharmacist can advise on your own case. Anyone with a known allergy should speak to their GP, and mention it when booking so the booking can be prioritised.
If you have been stung several times, take any rings off swollen fingers, go indoors and seek medical advice. Stings to the head and neck, or inside the mouth, are more concerning. Do not wait for symptoms to worsen before asking for help.
Treatment
Ground nests are treated like any other: a fixed £70 per nest, with £30 for an additional nest on the same property. The price is confirmed on the phone before the technician visits, with no call-out charge and no work without your agreement. If special access equipment is needed because of the position, the price may be higher.
Technicians are fully insured and qualified. Same-day service, evening and weekend appointments and emergency bookings are offered seven days a week, for domestic and commercial customers. The booking line is 07852 111 437, and the online form and contact page work too. Afterwards, ask when it is safe to use the area and whether any follow-up, such as filling the hole, is sensible.
Ask the technician to explain what they found, and whether they think the hole should be filled or left to settle. Fresh soil near an old entrance is a common sign that another nest could start there next year.
Wasps on your property in Bletsoe?
Fixed price £70 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.