Do Wasps Return to the Same Nest Every Year? A Guide for Hawksworth Gardens
Wasps that nest underground do not reuse the old chamber either, but the same sunny bank or lawn corner can attract a fresh queen, so know the signs before you mow.
The mistake of mowing over a hole
The mistake we hear about most from lawn owners is simply carrying on. A small hole appears at the edge of the grass, a few wasps are seen coming and going, and the mower goes straight over it because the job needs doing. The vibration is exactly what a colony reacts to, and the result is a cloud of angry wasps around someone with both hands on the handles.
Many wasp nests are not in buildings at all. They are in the ground, usually in an old burrow left by a small animal, at the foot of a bank, beneath a hedge or under a patch of rough grass. From above you see only a hole the size of a coin or a little larger, with a steady trickle of insects at its edge.
Before going any further it is worth answering the title. Wasps do not return to the same nest. The underground chamber is abandoned when the colony dies in autumn, and a new queen starts again in spring. She may well find the same burrow tempting, but she is building a new nest, not reoccupying an old one.
How to tell a ground nest from other holes in the garden
A lawn has plenty of holes, and not all of them are wasps. Watching from a safe distance for a minute or two is the best test, and you do not need to go closer than a few metres to do it.
- Wasps enter and leave the same hole in a steady line, often at a brisk pace.
- The traffic gets heavier on warm days and builds as the summer goes on.
- There may be a little loose soil around the opening, but a nest hole is usually neat.
- Ants, bumblebees and solitary bees also use holes, and they behave differently, with scattered, unhurried movement.
- If you are not sure what you are looking at, do not step closer to find out.
We treat wasps only. If you think the insects are honeybees or bumblebees, contact a local beekeeper or the relevant bee organisation instead of calling us.
It also helps to note how the hole sits in the ground. A nest hole often has bare, packed earth around it, and the wasps tend to fly directly in and straight out, instead of hovering or crawling about on the grass.
What not to do near a ground nest
Everyone has heard of home remedies that involve pouring something into a hole, and most of them make matters worse. They anger the colony, put people and pets at risk, and can contaminate the soil. Resist the temptation, however confident the advice sounds.
- Do not pour anything into the entrance.
- Do not cover it with a bucket or a slab, since wasps will dig another exit, possibly nearer to where people walk.
- Do not let children or dogs play near the spot.
- Do not use strimmers, mowers or garden forks anywhere close.
- Mark the area from a distance with a cane or a stone at a respectful range, so that everyone in the family knows where to avoid.
If someone is stung, move away from the nest first. Wash the area with soap and water, remove the sting if it is visible and hold a cold pack on it. Anyone with swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing, difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash needs 999. People with known allergies should talk to their GP about them.
Why the same patch tends to attract queens
Ground-nesting queens are looking for a dry, well-drained spot with an existing cavity. South-facing banks, the edge of a border and the base of an old tree stump suit that perfectly, and they stay suitable from one year to the next. A hole that attracted a queen last year therefore deserves a second look when spring arrives.
Late in the year, once the old colony has gone, there are some simple things you can do. Level any collapsed ground, fill obvious empty burrows with soil and keep the grass short enough that you can see what is happening in it. Fill a hole only once you have seen that it is truly quiet, and do it in the cold months, not in summer.
In Hawksworth and everywhere else, a queen that finds no ready-made cavity has to work harder, and some will go elsewhere. It does not give you a guarantee, but it shifts the odds in your favour.
Spring checks and getting a nest treated
From late April onwards, walk the lawn edge and the banks once a week, looking at the places you noted last year. A queen can start a new underground nest when the weather is mild enough, and by August it may hold 2,000 to 10,000 or more wasps, so earlier is better than later.
If you find an active hole, keep clear and phone for a treatment. Wasp Exterminator Leeds charges a fixed £90 per nest, with £35 for an additional nest on the same property, and there is no call-out charge. The price is confirmed on the phone before the technician visits, and nothing goes ahead without your agreement. Domestic gardens and commercial grounds are both covered.
Call 0113 347 0014 or use the booking form on the contact page. It helps to tell us roughly where the hole is, how far from a path or door, and whether anyone has a sting allergy. Same-day service is available, and the technicians are trained and the work fully insured. After the visit, note the position in your diary so you can check it again next spring.
Last, think about the wider garden. A rough bank or a tangle of brambles is attractive to many insects, and you may prefer to leave some wild corners for wildlife. That is a sensible choice. Just keep paths and play spaces away from them, and know where the holes are.
Wasps on your property in Hawksworth?
Fixed price £90 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.