Found a Wasp Nest in Your Loft in Beeston? Here's What to Do
Before booking, it helps to know whether the insects in your loft are wasps; this guide shows how to tell wasps from bees and what to do next.
First, check that they are wasps
A loft nest should be treated by a technician if the insects are wasps, and by a beekeeper if they are honeybees or bumblebees. We only treat wasps, so the first job is to work out which you have. You can do that from a distance, by looking at the insects as they come and go, and you should not go into the loft to find out.
The mistake is easy to make. Many people say "bees" about anything yellow and black that stings. The differences are quite clear once you know them, and they decide who you should call.
Do not worry if you cannot tell. If you describe what you see on the phone, we will help you decide, and it is better to ask than to guess.
One more point is worth making about timing. Honeybee swarms tend to appear in late spring and early summer, hang in a cluster for a few days and then move on, while wasps arrive as single queens in spring and build up numbers slowly. A mass of insects clumped together on a wall is therefore more likely to be bees, whereas a steady commuter traffic to one hole is more likely wasps.
How to tell wasps from bees
Compare what you see against this list, from a safe distance.
- Wasps have a smooth, slim, brightly banded body with a narrow waist and very little hair. They look glossy and sharply patterned in yellow and black.
- Honeybees are more golden brown, rounder and hairy, and often carry yellow pollen on their legs.
- Bumblebees are large, furry and slow-flying, usually with rounded bodies and fat bands of colour.
- Flight style: wasps dart and hover with quick, angular movements, while bees move more steadily from flower to flower.
Another clue is the nest. A wasp nest is grey, papery and layered like a ball of crumpled paper. Honeybees build wax comb, which looks like a golden honeycomb and often smells sweet. Bumblebees usually nest in small, hidden cavities, with few insects visible at the entrance.
Size alone can mislead you. Queen wasps are noticeably larger than workers, and look quite alarming in spring. Hoverflies imitate wasp colouring but have no narrow waist, only one pair of wings and a habit of hovering perfectly still. They are harmless and nothing to do with a nest.
If they turn out to be bees
Honeybees and bumblebees are valuable pollinators and are not something we treat. If you think you have them, do not use an aerosol and do not block the entrance. Contact a local beekeeper or the relevant bee organisation, who will advise you on what can be done and may be able to collect a honeybee swarm.
Keep the loft hatch closed and keep children and pets away from the area while you arrange it. If you are not sure, a photograph taken from a safe distance and shared with a beekeeper can be enough for them to identify the insect.
If they are wasps: what to do now
Treat a wasp colony with respect. Keep the hatch closed and keep out of the loft. Do not block the entrance outside, because the wasps will search for another way out, and do not use an aerosol on the nest or the opening, because it is both ineffective and risky. Open a window in any room where a wasp has strayed in, so it can leave on its own.
If wasps are going in and out in a steady line, you have an established nest, and the sooner it is dealt with the better. Colonies keep growing through the summer and are at their largest in August, with thousands of wasps.
Pay attention to what the insects are doing around the entrance. Wasps often land and walk about at the edge of a gap, grooming and checking for danger, and some will fly towards you if you stand very close. That is a good reason to watch from a few metres back and keep children away from the spot.
Write down what you have seen, with the date and the time of day. Even a short note such as busy at midday, quieter later on, one entrance on the back wall is helpful to a technician, and it will help a beekeeper too if it turns out you have bees.
The visit, the price and what to expect
Wasp nest treatment is a fixed £90, confirmed on the phone before the technician comes out. There is no call-out charge, and nothing is done until you have said yes. A second nest at the same property is £35. Our technicians are trained and fully insured, and we work in homes and commercial premises.
On arrival, the technician will ask where you have seen the wasps, check access to the loft and treat the nest. If anyone in the household is allergic to wasp stings, tell us when you book so we can take that into account. You can also ask then whether the empty nest can be taken down.
We are open seven days a week, and same-day service is available.
If you are unsure after reading all this, phone and describe the insects. It does not cost anything to ask, and the call helps us tell you whether a wasp visit is what you need.
Afterwards, and how to book
After the visit you may find some dead wasps near the hatch or on the landing. Clear them with gloves and a brush and pan or a vacuum. Leave the old paper nest alone until the technician has said what is best. Keep an eye on the roofline for the next few days, since a few wasps may still return to the old entrance.
To book in Beeston, phone 0113 347 0014 or use the online form on the contact page. If you are unsure whether they are wasps, tell us what you have seen and we will talk it through.
Wasps on your property in Beeston?
Fixed price £90 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.