Found a Wasp Nest in Your Loft in Far Headingley? Here's What to Do
Standing in the garden for five minutes can tell you more than a trip into the loft. Here is how to read a roofline and report a nest properly.
A line of wasps at the gutter
You are drinking a cup of tea in the garden when you notice something odd about the corner of the house. Wasps are not circling the flowers or the bin. They are heading in one direction, at the same height, towards a spot just below the gutter, and vanishing.
That regular, purposeful movement into a single gap is the most reliable outdoor sign of a nest in the roof space. If it describes what you are seeing in Far Headingley, you already have most of what is needed to describe the problem.
It does not matter whether this is a family home, a rented flat or a small business: the same signs apply. The only difference is who needs to be told. If you rent, tell the landlord or agent too, and check your agreement to see who is expected to arrange pest control.
How to watch without being a target
Wasps are protective of their entrance, so keep your distance. A good place to watch is twice the height of the building away from the wall, or at least as far as the garden allows, with a clear view of the eaves.
- Stand still and watch for three or four minutes. Do not wave at the wasps or crouch close to the wall.
- Notice the exact spot where they enter: the soffit, the fascia board, a gap near the chimney or a broken tile.
- Note whether the traffic is steady in both directions, with wasps arriving and leaving.
- Take a photo from a distance, if you can do so calmly, to show the technician.
- Mark the position by counting windows or tiles from a corner, which is easier than describing it vaguely.
If wasps start to fly at you, walk away quietly and calmly indoors. Do not run or swat.
Different times of day show different things. Mid-morning and mid-afternoon in warm weather are usually busy, so choose one of those times. On a cool, damp day the activity may be much lower and a nest can look deceptively quiet.
What the entrance tells you
An entrance high on the building often points to a nest in the loft. Wasps tend to use a hole close to the nest rather than flying a long way inside, so the position gives the technician a good idea of where to look in the roof void.
An entrance low on a wall, or at the base of the building, may suggest something different, such as a cavity or an underground nest. Describe what you see accurately rather than guessing, and we will talk through it on the phone.
If you can see the roofline from an upstairs window, that is even better. You are safely indoors and can watch for as long as you like, without worrying about being in the flight path.
What not to do at the entrance
Never block the hole with filler, tape or a stuffed rag. Wasps that find their exit sealed will chew through plasterboard or follow light into the house.
Do not throw water at the spot, hit it with a pole or knock the gutter. Keep children and pets away from the garden side of the building. If you have washing on a line close to the wall, leave it for now.
It is also best to avoid using an aerosol fly killer at the entrance. It will annoy the wasps rather than stop the colony, and it puts you within reach of their defence.
Watch out for wasps heading for the neighbouring property too. If the nest is in a shared wall or party roof, tell your neighbour so they can take the same precautions.
Reporting it to us
Ring 0113 347 0014, or use the booking form on the contact page. We cover Far Headingley and the rest of the Leeds area, with same-day service available seven days a week, for domestic and commercial customers.
The treatment of a nest costs a fixed £90, no call-out charge, and we confirm the price on the phone before a technician sets off. Any second nest on that property would be £35. Nothing is done without your agreement, and the visit is one visit guaranteed.
Tell us what you saw from the garden and, if you have a photograph, mention it. Let us know too if anybody in the household is allergic to wasp stings.
You do not need to climb up to look at the entrance. A description from the ground, with a photograph if possible, is plenty for us to start with.
After the visit
Our trained and fully insured technician will deal with the nest and let you know when you can use the garden normally. If you would like the empty nest taken down, ask when you book and we will tell you whether that is possible.
Afterwards, you might find dead wasps under the eaves or on the ground beneath the entrance. Wear gloves, scoop them into a bag and put them in the bin. Check the entrance hole in a few days and, if the technician agrees, you can have it repaired so the gap does not tempt another queen next spring.
For a sting, wash the area, remove the sting if you can see it and use a cold pack. If there is swelling of the lips, face or throat, wheezing, dizziness or a widespread rash, dial 999.
If you share a wall with a neighbour, a polite word helps, as wasps do not respect boundaries and their own roof space may be affected too.
Wasps on your property in Far Headingley?
Fixed price £90 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.