Are Wasps Dangerous? Understanding Stings and Nest Disturbance in Filey
Seldom-used sheds, garages and outbuildings are warm, dry and undisturbed, which is exactly what a queen wasp looks for in spring.
The mistake: opening up without looking
The most frequent way people walk into a nest is by opening a door they have not used for a while. A garden shed, a garage, a coal store or an old outbuilding sits quiet through the spring, and the first the owner knows of a nest is a cloud of wasps in the doorway.
These buildings offer everything a queen wants: shelter from the weather, a dry cavity and no traffic. From late April, depending on weather and how mild the spring has been, she can start a nest in a gap in the eaves, a hole in the wall, or the corner of a roof.
Check from the outside first
It takes only a minute to look before you open anything. Stand back a few steps and watch the building, especially on a warm, still day.
- Look at the roof edge, the fascia and the gap where the roof meets the wall.
- Watch for wasps entering and leaving the same crack, knot hole, air brick or hole in the wall.
- Listen at a distance for a steady hum coming from the building.
- Check the ground at the base of the walls and beneath any raised floor.
- Look at the window glass for wasps trapped and crawling on the inside.
If wasps are using the building
If you see signs of activity, leave the door shut. Do not open it just to peer in, do not tap on the walls and do not shine a torch through gaps. Keep other people away and make sure nobody sends a child into the shed for a ball.
If you have to open up for something urgent, go in only when you are sure nothing is going in or out of the building. Otherwise, wait. The belongings inside will still be there after treatment, and a nest inside a closed building can be dealt with without anyone going near it.
If you are stung inside a building
Stinging in an enclosed space is especially unpleasant because the wasps are around you and escape routes are narrow. Retreat the way you came in, close the door behind you and go well away. Do not stand at the doorway to look.
Wash stings with soap and cool water, remove any visible sting and hold a cold pack to the skin. Call 999 if there is swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash. People with a known allergy should speak to their GP. If you live at the property and are not sure about the structure, remember that the answers on who is responsible for repairs to an outbuilding depend on your tenancy agreement, so check it.
What to check inside once the nest has been dealt with
When a technician has treated a nest, the wasps that were part of that colony will stop coming and going over the following days. Even so, it is wise to be careful when you first go back into the building. Check from the doorway before stepping in, and look at the windows and light fittings for stray wasps. Open doors and windows to let any remaining wasps leave.
It is also a good moment to look at why the nest was there. Gaps in the roof edge, holes in the walls and badly fitting doors give wasps a way in. Dealing with these after treatment, or asking the person responsible for the building to do so, reduces the chance of another queen choosing the same place next spring.
If the building is used for storage, take the chance to tidy. A crowded shed with piles of boxes, old bags of compost or stacked timber offers many hiding places and makes it harder to check for activity.
A short routine, repeated through the year, makes surprises much less likely.
- In late April and May, walk round every outbuilding and look at the eaves and walls for early signs of activity.
- In June and July, glance at them on each visit to the garden, and watch for wasps entering a gap.
- In August, when colonies are at their largest, give any building you do not use daily a wide berth unless you have checked it from outside.
- Before storing anything for the winter, check that nothing is going in and out of the roof or wall.
- Keep doors shut and gaps filled once the building is clear of wasps.
This is easy to forget in a busy summer, but a little regular attention is far less trouble than a nest found the hard way.
If you rent the building or share it, bear in mind that who repairs a damaged roof edge or wall depends on the tenancy agreement or the terms of your arrangement with the owner. Check it, rather than assuming, before you carry out any repairs yourself.
Booking a visit
Wasp Exterminator Leeds covers Filey and the surrounding area. A nest is treated for a fixed £90, and an additional nest on the same property is £35, with no call-out charge. We work seven days a week, offer same-day service and take domestic and commercial jobs. Trained technicians attend, and the work is fully insured.
We tell you the price on the phone before we visit, and nothing is done without your agreement. Mention any sting allergy at booking, and tell us whether the building has a lock, a loft or a high roof so the technician can plan. Phone 0113 347 0014 or use the form on the contact page. You can also ask whether the empty nest can be removed afterwards.
Wasps on your property in Filey?
Fixed price £90 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.