When Is Wasp Season in Shepshed?
The summer holidays line up with the busiest part of the wasp year, so families need to know why wasps get pushier at picnics and what helps keep children safe.
Why the holidays and the peak overlap
Wasp numbers are lowest in spring and highest in August. School holidays, picnics and days out sit right at the high point. That is why many families feel wasp season arrives all at once, when in fact the colonies have been growing quietly since late April, depending on how mild the spring has been.
For families in Shepshed, a Leicestershire town near Loughborough, understanding that growth explains why the wasps in the garden in August seem so much more determined than the ones you saw in May.
Children are curious and quick, and a wasp is a moving, buzzing creature that invites a swipe. A quiet word at the beginning of the summer about what to do and what not to do prevents many stings. Explain that wasps come for sweet food, that they do not want to sting and that staying calm is the best defence.
Spring and early summer: a quiet start
In April and May a single queen is building a small nest and raising her first workers. There are very few wasps about, and the ones you see are usually looking for sheltered spaces. The risk to children is low, but it is the right moment to look at the places they play.
- Check the playhouse, shed and any gaps under the trampoline or climbing frame.
- Look at the underside of garden furniture and the eaves of garages.
- Make sure children know to leave any hole in the ground alone, even if it looks empty.
- Teach them to stay still and calm if a wasp lands on them.
This is also the best time to deal with a nest at the lowest level of fuss. If you find one near a play area, ask us to treat it before the season builds.
A short routine can make the garden safer. Once a week in May and June, look around the play area with a child, as a game: find any holes, any gaps and any wasps going in and out. Children are good at spotting small things, and they learn to keep away from them.
If you use a paddling pool, tent or bouncy castle, check the ground under it before setting up. A hidden hole in the grass can be hard to see, and a nest below a trampoline is a poor surprise.
July and August: picnics, ice lollies and fizzy drinks
By midsummer the colony needs more food, and the wasps that go out foraging find sweet snacks very attractive. Ice lollies, juice cartons, cans of fizzy drink and fruit are all of interest, and a wasp can crawl inside a can or a cup unseen.
Some simple habits make picnics and garden lunches easier:
- Use drinks with lids or straws, and check a cup before taking a sip.
- Keep food covered until people are ready to eat it.
- Wipe sticky hands and faces after eating.
- Put leftovers and wrappers in a bin with a tight lid.
- If a wasp comes close, tell children to walk away slowly instead of flapping.
If you find that wasps are coming from the same direction every time, look for a nest in that part of the garden, from a safe distance.
Days out matter as well. Parks, play areas and picnic spots have bins, ice cream vans and sticky benches that draw wasps in. Choose a seat away from bins, keep food packed until needed and carry wipes. A wasp at a picnic is usually looking for a snack, not a fight, and will lose interest if left alone.
If a child is stung
A sting is painful but is usually not serious. Wash the area, remove the sting if you can see one and apply a cold pack. Keep an eye on the child for a while afterwards.
Call 999 if there are signs of a serious allergic reaction: swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash. If a family member is known to be allergic to wasp stings, speak to your GP about it. Tell us when you book a treatment too, so we can take it into account.
Schools and nurseries have their own routines. If you are a parent who notices a nest near a school gate or playground, tell the school office; they can decide what to do. For a business such as a childcare setting, we deal with commercial premises and can talk through access and timing when you phone.
Late summer and autumn: the wasps get pushier
As the colony reaches its peak and then begins to decline, workers seem to lose their usual task and spend more time seeking sugar. That is when families see the most aggressive behaviour at picnics and in the park. It is not that wasps have grown angrier; the colony is simply changing.
It is still worth dealing with an active nest in September, particularly if it is close to a path, a door or a play area. Once the colony has died away, tidy the area and look at where the gap was. You can ask the technician at booking whether the empty nest can be taken down.
If your family has a summer plan, add the wasp checks to it. A five-minute walk round the garden before the holidays start is far better than discovering a nest on the first sunny day of the break.
Booking before a family event
If you have a birthday party, barbecue or garden event coming up, deal with any nest well before the date. Phone 0116 214 9259 or use the booking form on the contact page. The fixed price is £95 per nest and £35 for an additional nest on the same property, confirmed on the phone before a visit.
You pay no call-out charge, and the lines are staffed seven days a week with same-day service available. Our technicians are trained and fully insured.
Wasps on your property in Shepshed?
Fixed price £95 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.