Do Wasps Return to the Same Nest Every Year? A Guide for Stevenage Gardens
The best defence against a new nest is a regular, calm look round the property in spring, and this guide sets out what to check and when.
The short answer and what follows from it
Wasps do not return to last year’s nest. The colony dies in autumn, the old structure is abandoned and a new queen begins again somewhere else in spring. What follows from that is simple: the important task is not to guard an old nest but to notice a new one early. Nests that are found when small are far less intimidating than those found in August, when a nest can hold as many as 2,000 wasps. A routine takes only a few minutes and fits easily into a weekend. Queens start nests from early April, depending on weather and how mild the spring is. A warm March can bring things forward, and a cold, wet April can delay them. Begin your checks as soon as it is mild enough for insects to be flying, and carry on weekly through to the end of summer. Choose a warm, dry time of day, as wasps are most active then and any traffic will be easy to see. Late morning is fine.
The walk-round, step by step
Take a notebook or your phone, and go slowly. This is a checklist that works for most homes in Stevenage and elsewhere:
- Roofline: look up along the eaves, soffit and fascia for a wasp flying into a gap.
- Walls: check the airbricks, vents and any cracked render or mortar.
- Chimneys: look at the top of any unused stack, and whether wasps enter the pot.
- Garage and shed: look at the roof edges, the door frames and any holes in the timber.
- Hedges and shrubs: stand back and look for a line of wasps going in at one point.
- Ground: check bare banks, the edges of lawns and the base of fences for small holes with wasps entering.
- Compost heaps, log piles and stored items: look quietly from a distance.
Stop at a distance of a couple of metres. You are seeing where they go, not trying to look inside.
What counts as a sign of a nest
One or two wasps wandering about are not usually a nest. They might be scraping wood or looking at sweet food. The sign is traffic: a regular flow in and out through a single opening, with the wasps following the same path. Other clues include a quiet buzzing from a wall or ceiling, a papery smell, or a small amount of chewed fibre and debris below an entry hole. If you notice any of these, mark the location and keep your distance.
What not to do
It is tempting to deal with a small nest yourself. Resist that. Do not block the entrance, pour anything into it, hit it or try to knock it down, since a disturbed colony can swarm and sting. Do not stand directly below the entrance for a long time, and do not try to shoo wasps off with your hands. If you have already disturbed one, move away calmly and go indoors, close the windows, and treat any stings by washing the area, removing the sting if it is visible and applying a cold pack. If there is swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing, difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash, call 999. One more habit is worth building. When you note a sighting, write down the weather as well, such as whether it was warm and sunny or cool and cloudy. Wasps fly less on cold, damp days, so a quiet check on a poor morning proves little, and you may need to look again when the sun is out. Make a note of whatever you found and where. Sorting the entries by date gives you a picture of your property: the garage roof in one year, the hedge in another. That does not mean the same nest returns, but it shows you which parts of the building queens like.
Simple measures that lower the odds
You cannot prevent every nest, but you can take away some of the easier options through the quieter months. Repair broken timber and fill small cracks, and clear the clutter that builds up behind sheds and in corners of garages. Keep bins closed and tidy away fallen fruit through the summer, since food sources keep wasps hanging round the property once a nest is established nearby. Leave any repairs until you are sure nothing is using the gap. Blocking an active entrance can send wasps looking for another way out, which is sometimes through the house. It helps if one person in the household takes charge of the walk-round and shares what they find. Children should be taught early to stay away from any spot where wasps are going in and out, and to tell an adult rather than investigate. If you rent or manage a shared building, tell whoever looks after the property as soon as you see signs of a nest, and check the tenancy agreement or the terms that apply to you for who arranges and pays for work.
Booking when you find one
When you do see signs of a live nest, the next step is a phone call. The cost is a fixed £70 per nest, and £30 for an additional nest on the same property, with no call-out charge. The price is confirmed on the phone before the technician visits, and it might be more where special equipment is needed to reach the nest. No work starts until you agree. Technicians are fully insured and qualified, and they work domestic and commercial jobs, seven days a week, with same-day service and evening and weekend appointments. Call 07852 111 437 to arrange a visit, or use the booking form or contact page instead. If anyone is allergic to stings, mention it when you book.
Wasps on your property in Stevenage?
Fixed price £70 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.