It's Summer - Time for Wasps!

Wasps

The vast majority of people in the UK will be familiar with the wasp. Wasps are the bane of picnics, beer gardens, beaches and barbeques. In this country, the Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris) and the German Wasp (Vespula germanica) are armed with the most painful stings: these two species are the most annoying and the ones that you are most likely to find invading your commercial or domestic premises. Despite being adorned with distinctive yellow and black striped bodies, the wasp is frequently confused with the Hornet, which is not common in the UK. Hornets can of course still sting and cause pain. Other species of wasp are also considered to be pests but far less commonly found. Sadly, wasps are also frequently confused with bees. It is worth bearing in mind how the treatment for the removal of wasp nests differs from that of a bees nest.

At Key West Pest Control, we have tried our best to highlight the plight of the bee – they are endangered. A bee nest will only be removed if the attendant presence of bees poses a significant threat to people in close proximity. Key West would only remove a bee nest as a last resort. The range of treatments for a wasp nest are far more commonly employed: we can carry out such a treatment quickly and safely.

As has been mentioned, wasps are frequently confused with bees, and at Key West we would urge you to take note of the differences between them and those physical qualities that make wasps distinct. You will find that wasps have considerably less hair on their bodies than bees. Between the thorax and abdomen wasps have a tighter waist than that of bees. The wasp has distinctive bright yellow and black stripes around its body. A wasp’s body comprises three main parts: the head, thorax and abdomen. Only female wasps sting us, but unlike bees, they can do so repeatedly. Worker wasps vary in size from 12 -17mm

Wasp Nests

In the spring when a Queen wasp begins to build a nest its origins are diminutive, being the size of a golf ball. The nest grows in size rapidly roughly to the size of a basketball as summer approaches. During this period the number of wasps living in the nest increases, as you might expect. The nest itself is constructed from chewed wood pulp and saliva; the result is a papery consistency. Such nests are usually found in sheltered areas that are easily accessible from the exterior. Common wasp nest sites include sheds, garages, bird boxes, roof spaces, under eaves and wall cavities.

Prevention

The earlier a nest is given treatment, the better – as the summer progresses their number increases and they become more aggressive. If you suspect an infestation in your commercial or domestic premises you can locate the nest by being diligent and watching the flight path of wasps as they return to your buildings. Given that the number of wasps within a nest increases throughout the summer, such vigilance is more easily rewarded the further into the summer you are.

Prevention is always better than the cure in the case of a wasp nest and in pest control generally speaking. Certain measures can be taken to reduce the risk of a wasp problem. Altering habits in relation to the handling of food and drink can assist in the reduction of risk. Make sure that you check for nests. In the early spring, check in those place mentioned earlier – sheds, garages, under eaves, bird boxes, roof spaces, wall cavities – for the nest in its infancy: it will be around the size of a golf ball. The earlier, the better. Make sure that windows and doors are shut – it is a common misconception that during warm, or even hot, weather an open window will cool down your commercial or domestic premises. This just lets warm air into the building and increases the internal temperature. Make sure that your rubbish bins have tightly fitting lids, and keep the bins a good distance from doors and windows if you are able – wasps are often attracted to the contents of rubbish bins. If you have spotted and located a nest, keep children and domesticated animals away from the area.

While the detection of high numbers of wasps in your commercial or domestic premises may mean that a wasp nest is nearby, the removal of the nest might not be feasible. Nests found in confined, restricted and difficult-to-reach locations will be more difficult to treat. If the wasp nest is not located on your own property, your control over the situation is limited.

If you have a wasp problem, certain DIY products are available such as wasp repellents. Do NOT attempt to apply such treatments without the assistance of another person or even if you suspect that you are allergic to wasp stings and are likely to react with anaphylactic shock. If you are going to apply a repellent, make sure that you are wearing protective clothing – goggles, gloves, dust masks. Before you treat the nest wait until night time after scout wasps have made their final return journey to the nest. Always read very carefully the instructions written on the repellent container – you will learn not to stand directly below the nest, for example. Once the treatment has been applied – i.e. with a spray – leave the nest for a MINIMUM of 24 hours before even attempting careful removal of the nest – foraging wasps may take several days to return to the nest. As wasps do return and enter the nest they will be contaminated.

You can of course save yourself all of this hassle and risk by calling Key West Pest Control.

Even then, after having been professionally treated with insecticide a wasp nest should not be removed directly, because of the staggered return of foraging wasps. When the nest is totally dead it should be sealed in two thick plastic bags and disposed of in an external rubbish bin with a secure lid: tightly sealed. If the nest is in an inaccessible location and you cannot remove, not to worry, the insecticide will kill off the wasps and then will break down quickly leaving little residue. It is also worth bearing in mind that wasps will not return to a used nest in subsequent years. If you have any doubts about enacting any of this advice and require assurance or professional pest control, then call Key West.