Wasps Around Your Guttering and Fascias? How to Find the Nest in Kirby Muxloe
Not every insect at the roofline is a wasp. Telling them apart before you ring saves time, and it matters because we treat wasp nests only.
First, be sure what you are looking at
Householders often use the word wasp for anything that is yellow and flies, but the insects that nest around buildings include wasps, honeybees, bumblebees and, more rarely, hornets. They behave differently and they need different help. We deal with wasps only, so a few minutes of identification at the start is useful for everyone.
If you are in Kirby Muxloe and see activity at the roofline, try to look before you call. A good photograph from a safe distance, or a careful look through binoculars, can tell you a great deal.
The insect's size and its flight give clues too. Wasps move fast and look neat; bumblebees lumber and bumble from flower to flower. If the insects at your roofline are visiting flowers in the garden and then returning to a hole, that fits bees as much as wasps, so look closely before you decide.
If you have a camera with a good zoom, a clear photograph of a single insect on the wall is worth ten minutes of guessing, and it can be shown to a beekeeper or to us.
How wasps look and behave
Common wasps are slim-waisted, smooth and glossy, with bold yellow and black bands and no obvious fur. They fly with quick, darting movements, and they come and go from a nest in a steady stream. They are also the insects most likely to turn up at a picnic or a bin.
What to compare when you watch:
- Wasps look bright, hairless and sharply patterned, with a narrow waist.
- Honeybees look browner and furrier, and a colony in a wall or roof is usually a beekeeper's matter.
- Bumblebees are large, round and very hairy, and their nests are small and often found in the ground or in sheltered gaps.
- Hornets are noticeably bigger, with a more reddish-brown look to them.
If the insects are fuzzy and plump, that is a clue it is not a wasp.
Colour alone can mislead, because sunlight, distance and dirt change how an insect appears. It is better to judge by the shape, the way it flies and whether it looks furry or shiny.
If it turns out to be bees
We do not treat bees, hornets or other pests. If you think you have honeybees, contact a local beekeeper or the relevant bee organisation; they will often move a swarm or advise on a colony in a building. For bumblebees, the best approach is often to leave them be, since a small nest dies down naturally later in the year and the insects are not usually aggressive.
If you are not sure, say so when you ring. We will ask you a few questions about what you have seen and tell you honestly whether it sounds like a wasp nest.
Please do not try to move or disturb a colony of bees yourself. Bees are valuable pollinators, and some beekeepers are glad to collect a swarm. A short photograph and a location are all they usually need to start with.
If wasps and bees both seem to be around, describe what you see to us as well. We can only deal with the wasps.
Tracing the entrance without a ladder
Once you are fairly confident it is wasps, find where they are going. Stand back and watch the fascia, soffit and gutter for a minute or two each, and note the corner, board or bracket where the traffic goes in. A zoomed phone video will help if you cannot decide.
Do not climb to check, and do not block, tap or poke the gap. Someone at the top of a ladder with a face near the opening has nowhere to go, and a colony of thousands responds quickly to any threat.
Keep children and pets away from the wall, and keep nearby windows shut.
Be careful with window glass too. Insects in a roofline often show up on the inside of a nearby window, and the temptation is to open it. Keep it shut and let them be.
If you can, watch at two different times of day, because bees and wasps are not always busy at the same moments, and a pattern across a morning and an afternoon is much more informative than one glimpse.
Booking a wasp treatment
For wasps, we charge a fixed £95 per nest, and an additional nest on the same property is £35 more. There is no call-out charge, we work seven days a week and offer same-day service, and we serve homes and businesses. Those attending are trained, and full insurance covers the work.
Phone 0116 214 9259 or use the booking form on the contact page. The price is confirmed on the phone before the visit, and nothing goes ahead until you agree. Tell us if anyone in the household is allergic to stings.
When you ring, mention what you observed about the insects themselves, such as size, colour and whether they looked furry. Three or four sentences help us decide whether the call is the right one.
After the visit
When the wasps have stopped, a joiner or builder should close the gap. If you want to know whether the empty nest can be taken down, ask when you book. Look again in late April or May, from the ground, to see whether any insects show interest in the same spot.
If the insects you saw were bees, the same advice about sealing applies, but only after the bees have been moved by a beekeeper. Never seal in a colony of any insect.
Repair the gap with a joiner, and ask about the empty nest if it is a wasp nest, but only once the activity has completely stopped.
Keeping a photograph of what you saw is helpful for anyone you speak to later, whether that is a builder, a landlord or a beekeeper.
Wasps on your property in Kirby Muxloe?
Fixed price £95 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.