Found a Wasp Nest in Your Loft in Churwell? Here's What to Do
An old, dry nest in the loft does not mean the wasps will return to it, but a sheltered loft may attract a new queen; here is how to tell what you have.
Old nests and new ones
If you find a grey, papery nest in the loft that is dry and silent, it is probably left over from a previous summer. A wasp colony does not survive winter, and the nest is not reused the following year, so an old one is not a live problem. The risk is that a loft that suited wasps once is likely to suit a new queen the next spring.
What matters is working out whether the nest in front of you is old or active. A live nest has a constant stream of wasps and a sound to go with it. A dead one is quiet and still. If you are not sure, treat it as live and do not touch it; wasps can look absent from a distance even when the colony is only a short way beyond.
Never reach out to test it. If in doubt, ask the technician.
Many householders find an old nest while looking for something in the loft, and worry that it means they have a problem. In most cases it means a queen chose the space in a previous year. The nest is worth noting, though, because it tells you the loft has a way in, and that way in is likely to be there next spring too.
Signs the nest is active this year
Use these clues to decide what you are looking at.
- Wasps are visibly flying in and out of a gap in the roofline.
- There is a humming or crackling sound from the loft or ceiling in warm weather.
- You are finding wasps in upstairs rooms or on window sills.
- The nest looks fresh: light grey or fawn paper, with a smooth surface rather than a crumbly, brittle one.
The season matters as well. Wasps begin building from late April, depending on how mild the spring has been, so an active nest in July or August is entirely normal, while an apparent nest in the depths of winter is nearly always a leftover.
What to do with an old, empty nest
If the nest is old and there is no activity at all, it is not dangerous, but do not assume. Wear gloves and a face mask if you decide to remove it, avoid breaking it up into fragments in a confined space, and put it in a bag for the bin. If you would rather have a professional look, you can phone and ask.
There is little point in removing it on a warm day when active wasps could be nearby. Winter or very early spring is a more sensible time.
Once it is gone, look for the gap the wasps used and have it repaired. That is the best way to make the loft less appealing to a queen next spring.
If you have any doubt at all about whether it is empty, leave it where it is and phone. A technician can say whether it needs a visit, and you will know the fixed price is £90 before anyone comes.
Some people like to keep an old nest as a curiosity. That is fine if it is dry and unoccupied, but keep it away from children, who may be tempted to poke at it.
When you have a live nest
If the nest is active, do not try to deal with it yourself. Keep the hatch shut, stay out of the loft, leave the entrance open and do not use aerosols. Open windows in any room where a wasp has strayed so that it can leave.
Phone for a treatment. The price is a fixed £90, confirmed on the phone before a technician comes out. There is no call-out charge, and we do not start work until you agree. A further nest at the same address would be £35. Our technicians are trained and fully insured, and we treat homes and commercial properties.
While you wait for the visit, avoid the area around the roofline entrance. Workers returning to the nest follow the same route repeatedly, so a bench, a washing line or a pushchair left near it will see more traffic than you would like. Moving them a few metres away costs nothing.
Preventing a repeat
No one can guarantee a queen will not choose your roof, but you can make it a less attractive place. After the nest has been treated, ask the technician whether the entry point should be repaired, and have a roofer or builder close any gaps in the eaves, soffits and around pipes. Do this once the nest is dealt with, never before.
Check the roofline each spring, from the ground, for a queen investigating a gap. Early action when only a small nest has started is simpler than waiting until the summer.
Some people also wonder about decoy nests. Their effectiveness is unproven, and we would not rely on them.
Keep a note in your diary to look again in April. It takes two minutes from the garden, and a single queen entering a gap is a much easier problem to deal with than a full colony in August.
Booking and the visit
When you phone, tell the technician where you have seen wasps, whether anyone is allergic, and how the hatch is reached. Ask at booking whether the empty nest can be taken down.
After the treatment, dead wasps may be found near the hatch. Gloves, a brush and a pan, or the vacuum, will do the job.
To arrange a visit to Churwell, call 0113 347 0014 or use the online form on the contact page. Our days run from Monday to Sunday, and same-day service can be offered.
Wasps on your property in Churwell?
Fixed price £90 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.