When Is Wasp Season in Ratby?
Many ideas about wasp season are half-true or simply wrong, so this guide sorts common myths about timing, weather and old nests from what is actually useful to know.
Why myths stick
Wasp season comes round every year, and so do the rumours. Some are harmless, but others lead people to wait too long or to try something risky. Here is a calm look at the most common ones, written for anyone in Ratby, in Leicestershire, trying to work out what is going on at their home.
The facts we can stand behind are simple. Wasps start building nests from late April, depending on how mild the spring has been. From there the colony expands through the summer, reaching its peak in August with 2,000 to 10,000 wasps or more in a single nest.
The reason these ideas persist is that they contain a grain of truth. Wasps are more noticeable in August. The weather does influence activity. Old nests do look abandoned. The mistake lies in drawing the wrong conclusion from each observation.
Myth: wasps only appear in August
They are there from spring. What changes in August is the size of the colony. A nest started in May is small and quiet, and by August it has become big and noisy. If you notice wasps only in August, it is probably because the colony has reached a size you cannot miss.
The practical point is that a nest can be found and dealt with long before August, for the same fixed price of £95 per nest.
If you are tempted to wait and see, ask yourself what you gain by waiting. A nest does not become smaller in July, and it will not disappear because you have decided to ignore it. By acting at once, you lose nothing and may avoid weeks of trouble.
Equally, nobody needs to panic. A nest found in spring is a routine job for a trained technician, and a nest found in August is the same job at a busier time.
Myth: a bad summer means fewer wasps
People often assume that a wet or cool summer reduces wasp trouble. It might change when and how you notice them, but it does not guarantee a nest-free garden. Nests can still start, grow and peak, and a cool spell followed by sun can produce a sudden burst of activity.
Do not rely on the weather to solve a problem. If you can see a nest or a steady line of wasps going to one spot, deal with it.
Some people hope that a bad run of weather will do the work for them. Weather can slow things down for a few days, but a colony in a sheltered loft or wall is protected from much of it. That is why nests in buildings carry on regardless of the conditions outside.
The same logic applies to the idea that a hard frost ends everything. By the time frost arrives, the colony has been in decline for weeks, so it is not the frost that matters.
Myth: it is fine to block the hole
Blocking the entrance is one of the riskiest things to do. The wasps inside will look for another way out, and that can be a gap leading into the house. An angry colony is also more likely to sting.
Another myth is that you can knock a nest down and walk away. Do not try it. Instead, stay well back, keep children and pets away and call a trained technician who is fully insured.
- Do not block entrances.
- Do not hose, poke or knock the nest.
- Do not stand on a ladder next to a flight line.
- Do not rely on homemade traps to clear a nest.
There are other misconceptions about homemade fixes. Sugary traps in the garden do not remove a nest and may simply bring more wasps close to where people sit. Improvised methods can provoke a colony. If you are unsure about a method, leave it and ask.
Another popular idea is that a nest in the loft is harmless provided you never go up there. The wasps do not stay in the loft. They find gaps into rooms, and the noise and staining can become hard to ignore. A nest in a building is better dealt with than avoided.
Myth: old nests are a hazard next year
Nests are not generally reused, so an old nest is not an automatic danger. New queens begin nests of their own. It is still sensible to check the same sheltered places in spring, and to ask the technician at booking whether an empty nest can be taken down.
One further caution: do not assume a nest is empty just because it is quiet. If you are not sure, leave it alone.
It also helps to remember that not every flying insect is a wasp. Honeybees and bumblebees are different, and we do not treat them. If you think you have bees, contact a local beekeeper or the relevant bee organisation. If you are not sure what you have, describe it to us and we can help you decide.
Myth: wasps are hard to book at short notice
We offer same-day service, are open seven days a week and charge no call-out. The price is fixed at £95 per nest, with £35 for an additional nest on the same property, confirmed on the phone before a technician visits. No work starts until you agree.
You can phone 0116 214 9259 or use the online form on the contact page. We deal with homes and businesses, and if someone is allergic to stings, tell us when you book.
If you are unsure which myth applies to you, a short description over the phone is enough. We can talk through what you are seeing without any obligation to go ahead.
Wasps on your property in Ratby?
Fixed price £95 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.