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What should I do about a wasps' nest?

by loveWheel 19 May 2009 |

12 comments | Love

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I noticed occassional wasps flying up to and disappearing into the roof by my bedroom window. I had a look into the loft and saw there is a wasps' nest about the size of a shoe.
They don't really bother me, they keep their stereo down low etc. but I get the feeling it's one of these things I should nip in the bud.
So should I: Ignore them and hope they go away? Poke the nest with a big stick and run? Ask them for rent? Try and put the nest in a plastic bag and risk getting stung? Call in the pros and risk getting stung?

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Comments (12)

37

lovebunny posted
My mom dealt with a big wasp situation last summer. She got rid of them and avoided getting stung -- here's the checklist:
1. get some serious wasp-killing spray
2. clothe yourself in balaclava/headscarf, gloves, long-sleeve shirt, trousers etc -- tuck your socks into trousers, too
3. under the cover of darkness (bees and wasps sleep at night), go into your loft, open a window, and ATTACK!
4. about 24 hours after the carnage, listen for buzzing and look for activity -- if all clear, sweep up the corpses and LEAVE THE NEST IN PLACE -- this will deter future wasps from moving in (they will think there are already wasps in the 'hood and will stay away)
Final comment: act fast, as wasps get more aggressive towards late summer.
Good luck to you.
lovebunny
Posted on 19 May 2009 | Love 1 love Report
37

lovebunny posted
Wait, I forgot a crucial point: if you are allergic to wasp stings, ignore everything I said and just get an expert (or brave, non-allergic friend) in to do it for you.
Posted on 19 May 2009 | Love 0 loves Report
53

Carl posted
Have you seen "My Girl?"
Get a pro in or run the risk of being stung alive in your sleep.
Posted on 19 May 2009 | Love 0 loves Report
0

beegee posted
If they are not causing a nuisance then probably leave them alone. We had a nest in the wall cavity just below our bedroom floor; and they DID turn the music up loud. Some sort of communal droning which kept us awake. The Council probably won't send out pest control as on balance they consider wasps beneficial. Plenty of private outfits will "treat" the nest. Just stand well clear when he injects the powder into the nest - they don't like it and get very angry
Posted on 19 May 2009 | Love 0 loves Report
2

chris posted
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhW3tk17Y_M
Good luck ;)
Posted on 19 May 2009 | Love 0 loves Report
130

Donna Ferguson posted
We had a wasps' nest. If you don't get rid of them they will bug you whenevr you go outside (no pun intended). They will fly in open windows. They will buzz around your rubbish. And eventually more wasps nests will come. Then maybe some hornets.
When we eventually got round to doing something about it, we found nine nests in the loft.
So yeah, probably best to nip it in the bud - I think the council may be able to help?

Donna Werbner
(Acting Editor of lovemoney.com)
Posted on 19 May 2009 | Love 0 loves Report
130

Donna Ferguson posted
PS - just checked, and yeah, most councils will get rid of them - for a fee. My council charges £75 for example.
Type wasps nest and the name of your borough into google and you should find the right page. Alternatively, try calling the environment office.
I reckon the council will probably offer the cheapest service, but you could also try shopping around.
Personally this is not something I'd want to attempt myself... but good luck if you do1
Posted on 19 May 2009 | Love 1 love Report
824

MikeGG1 posted
Get some wasp nest powder and puff it liberally around the entrance that they are using once it is nearly dark. Next day they will carry the powder into the nest on their legs, bodies & wings. This will kill the nest. Leave it for a few days before removing it.
Posted on 20 May 2009 | Love 1 love Report
4

cupboardlove posted
We had two wasps nests. Get an expert in. They'll don a protective hat and gloves and spray a load of nasty stuff into the nest. Within a day you'll no longer see wasps. Job done.
Posted on 20 May 2009 | Love 0 loves Report
21

Paul Warburton posted
Hit it with a massive stick. That's what I did a few years ago and worked a treat.
Posted on 22 May 2009 | Love 0 loves Report
1

grovebarton posted
Wasps catch, eat and take back to their nest huge numbers of flies, including the irritating biting ones. They have no interest in stinging you unless you attack them. They can become a nuisence in the autumn when they are no longer feeding young, so change their diet to fruit and sugar. But only the Queen survives when the weather gets colder. One nest will deter others, it certainly will not attract them. I hope you can manage to live and let live, and share your experience of doing so, later in the year.
Posted on 25 May 2009 | Love 1 love Report
21

loveWheel posted
An update on what I did: I went for the advice of "live and let live" largely due to it being the easiet. However the nest became more popular to the wasp community and I became scared to enter the loft. So time for a pro:
I phoned my council (Lewisham) and an unenthusiastic voice told me they will do it for £50 Mon-Fri 8-4. Since I'm a slightly odd in the way that I am busy between those hours every week(!) I phoned a private pest control company. They came and did it that night at 6.30pm for £40!!! I now am wasp free.
So don't assume the council will be the cheapest!
Ps. Not only are Lewisham making a profit on this they are making £10 more profit than a private firm (who are obviously making a profit themselves). Disgusting.
Posted on 09 July 2009 | Love 0 loves Report