When Is Wasp Season in Woodhouse Eaves?
The end of the wasp year is when you can learn the most about what happened, so this guide looks at autumn, empty nests and getting ready for next spring.
When the season actually ends
Wasp season does not stop on a particular day. After the August peak the colony slowly declines, and as the weather cools over September and October the number of wasps around the house falls away. Because the start of the season depends on the spring, the end is similarly loose.
If you live in Woodhouse Eaves, in Leicestershire, the best approach is to treat autumn as a time for observation and clean-up. It is not a signal to ignore any active nest, but it is a good moment to understand what happened this year.
Many people find that the season ends more quietly than it begins. There is often no obvious last day, just a gradual fading. That is why a written note of what you saw, and when, is useful. By the time you read it again in spring, you will have forgotten how long the activity went on this year.
Still active, or finished?
The first job is to work out whether the nest is still in use. Watch the entrance from a distance for ten minutes on a mild, dry day.
- Wasps still flying in and out in a steady stream mean the nest is active.
- An occasional wasp means the colony is winding down.
- No traffic at all over several days suggests it has finished.
- Wasps hovering at windows and drinks do not prove the nest is empty; they may still come from it.
If it is still active, particularly near a door or path, you can still book a treatment. The fixed price is £95 per nest, confirmed on the phone before a technician visits.
There is one more thing to look for in autumn: wasps that are still around but not from your nest. Late in the year, foragers from nests nearby may visit your garden for fruit or bins. A few wasps at the compost do not necessarily mean you have a nest on site.
A useful test is to watch at the same time on three different days. If the traffic is the same each day, the colony is still going. If it drops each time, the end is close. Write the observations down so that you are not relying on memory.
What to do with an empty nest
Once a nest is inactive, there is no longer a colony to deal with, but there is the question of the nest itself. If it is in a loft, wall or chimney, many people want it removed or at least checked. Put the question of taking the empty nest down to the technician when you book.
Do not assume a nest is safe to handle just because it looks quiet. If there is any doubt, leave it alone and get advice. Old nests can also hold the odd late straggler.
If you rent and the nest is on a shared or landlord-owned part of the building, who arranges the treatment depends on the tenancy agreement, so check it or ask the landlord or agent. We can discuss the practical side once you know who will be booking.
For a business, an empty nest in a roof void or outbuilding is worth noting in a maintenance log, even if no action is taken straight away.
Find out how they got in
Autumn is the ideal time to find the route that wasps used. A nest never appears from nowhere; a gap, a missing vent cover or a hole has allowed access.
- Look at the eaves and soffits for cracks or gaps where boards meet.
- Check around pipes and cables where they enter the wall.
- Inspect the loft hatch and vents from inside, with a torch, if it is safe to do so.
- Look at gaps in brickwork, chimney flashings and the base of the roof.
- Make a note of any holes in lawns and banks.
Do not seal a gap while wasps are still using it. Wait until the nest is inactive, and check with the technician if you are unsure whether that is the case.
Repairs are best planned for a dry day in late autumn or winter, when there is no risk of an active colony. A builder or handyperson can fill gaps, replace vent covers and tidy up soffit boards. It is a modest job that reduces sheltered places for next spring.
For wall cavities, chimneys and roof edges, ask a professional to carry out the work, as height and access bring their own risks.
Preparing for next spring
Nests are begun from late April, though how mild the spring is decides the timing. The work you do in autumn pays off then. Clear the shed and garage so that you can see into corners, tidy up fallen fruit and leave the compost covered. Put a note in your diary for April to start looking again.
If you are a landlord, a business owner or a manager of a larger site, write down where nests were this year, so that you can check those spots first.
The same applies to the garden. Fill in holes in banks once you are sure they are no longer in use, tidy hedge bottoms and move stacked logs away from sheds. Each small step removes a place where a queen might settle.
Keep an eye on stored items too. Boxes of garden cushions, parasols and tools put away for winter should be shaken out before they go into storage, and checked again in spring before you bring them out.
Booking and what to say
If you still have an active nest, or you want a technician to look at an empty one, phone 0116 214 9259 or use the online booking form on the contact page. Each extra nest found on the property costs £35 more. We are open seven days a week, offer same-day service and make no call-out charge.
Technicians are trained and fully insured, and we work on homes and commercial premises. Please mention if anyone is allergic to wasp stings.
Wasps on your property in Woodhouse Eaves?
Fixed price £95 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.