North Hampshire/Surrey

Paul Sweet
Mob: 07810 688 620

South West Hampshire

Philip Tarrant
Mob: 07702 085 605

Questions & answers about wasp nests

Darren asked:

i found a small wasps nest in our shed it was about 2inches in diameter and hung down about 1inch to 2 inches(size of a golf ball) and only saw 1 wasp go near it every so often,can i remove the nest myself by placing an old jar over it then knocking it into the jar and then immerse the nest in water.the reason i was wondering is because its so small and doesnt seem live(only ever seen 1 wasp go near it,as if its just that one wasp building it at the moment)

This question was asked on 2011-05-08

Paul Sweet replied:

Hi Darren, this will be what we call a starter nest, the wasp you can see either going in or flying about the nest is the queen. If you removed the nest while she is not in it, the chances are she will start rebuilding it, or move on elsewhere and start again. If you are going to destroy the nest, you need to make sure you get her too. Regards Paul Sweet

This reply was made on 2011-05-08

Sonia asked:

Hello Paul, Please can you tell me if you\'ve ever heard of a Hornets nest creating a smell. We have a nest in the loft and the bedroom directly below the nest has just started to have an unpleasant smell. We\'ve searched the room for anything that might have got in and died, but found nothing! Hope you can help. Sonia

This question was asked on 2010-08-25

Paul Sweet replied:

Hi Sonia, sorry for the delay in reply. Usually, wasp nests do not smell, however, at this time of year when the nests have been about for a few months, they can get a bit juicy due to the number of insects that are being brought into the nest by the wasps/hornets. Also if the weather is hot, wasps will bring a lot of water into the nest to help cool the nest down. Both wasps and hornets are predators and catch a surprising amount of small insects to feed their young. These smaller insects are chopped up before they are brought back to the nest and fed to the wasp/hornet larvae. These bits of insect invariably get dropped inside the nest and land at the bottom. If the bottom of the nest is touching the ceiling, which is often the case, the oils and body juices can seep through the plasterboard making the ceiling damp. This could be the source of the smell. If the ceiling is starting to discolour, I would guess that this is what is going on. Advice would be to have the nest killed off, and once dead, have the nest removed and the ceiling inspected to see just how much damage has occurred. Trying not put the frighteners on you, but if left unchecked, a nest in this situation \"can\" sometimes sink through the ceiling as the plasterboard can no longer support the weight of the nest. Hope this helps Regards Paul

This reply was made on 2010-08-27

Marie-anne asked:

Hi paul my grandaughter & I went on our usual walk with my dogs last pm.over the field in front of my house\'as we crossed the field there was a either a wasps or hornets nest in a hole that was not there the day befor, we were both stung quite bad,the stings are still hurting now, I had a fever through the night we both feel a bit poorly still. I have been stung by wasps befor but never felt like this, despite taking antihistamines.Do wasps or hornets build nests in open fields?.

This question was asked on 2010-08-21

Paul Sweet replied:

Hi Marie-anne, sorry to hear about your episode! Were they larger than regular wasps? If so it sounds like hornets to me, they have a more powerful sting than a wasp and can make you feel quite ill for a day or so afterwards. Both wasps and hornets will nest in holes in open fields, in fact almost anywhere. Avoid this area for the rest of the summer. Regards Paul

This reply was made on 2010-08-21
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Our fee for treating a Wasp or Hornet nest is a straight forward £65.00. This cost includes all the expenses associated with the treatment, such as callouts, climbing ladders, working in lofts, and any essential treatments. There are no hidden costs, and we want to ensure that you know exactly what you will be paying for our services.

If you've discovered additional nests on your property, we can treat them during the same visit for an extra £15.00 per nest. This offer is only applicable if treated at the time of the original callout. So, if you have multiple nests on your property, call us, and we can discuss a fixed price to handle all the nests in a single visit.

We are certified and fully insured professionals, and all our work comes with a guarantee. Payment is due upon completing the job, and please note that we do not accept bank transfers. Additionally, no value-added tax (VAT) is applied to our charges.

Please ensure that you have correctly identified the species of flying insect causing concern before contacting us. If you are not certain, you can send us a clear photo, and we will be happy to assist in identifying the issue. Alternatively, you can call us, and we will discuss the problem and provide advice.

We strongly advise against using proprietary products you may have purchased to treat the nest, as this action can often lead to disastrous consequences. If you decide to embark upon this often hazardous endeavor, please do not call us to sort out the frequently dangerous aftermath.

Please do not contact us for any issues related to bees, as we do not provide treatment for any bee species.

When you book our services, we will assign you an approximate morning or afternoon time slot. We promise to be there as scheduled and kindly request that you be present at home to ensure a smooth process.

For safety reasons, we recommend keeping children and pets indoors and closing windows and doors during and for several hours after treatment. Please keep in mind that we work weekends, so if you discover a nest in your garden during the weekend (Saturday or Sunday), give us a call, and we will make every effort to respond to your situation as soon as possible.

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