Why Are Wasps Flying Into Your Moortown Home? Common Causes and Solutions
Many wasp problems get worse because of well-meant mistakes, so this guide sets out what not to do first, then explains the causes and the sensible fixes.
The first reaction is rarely the best one
A wasp comes into the kitchen, and the instinctive response is quick: swat it, shut the window, or wedge something into the corner where it seems to have come from. Most of us have done at least one of these, and most of us have regretted it. The aim of this guide is to explain why those reactions fail and what works better.
The wasps entering a house in Moortown have the same handful of causes as anywhere else. They are following food, using an open route, seeking warmth, or travelling to and from a nest. Once you know which, the right response is usually obvious. The mistakes below are the ones that stand in the way.
None of them come from carelessness. They come from wanting the problem gone quickly, which is perfectly natural when a stinging insect is flying round your living room. It is just that the quick fix and the safe fix are often different things.
Mistake one: blocking the hole
If you see wasps going into a gap in the wall, the pull to fill it is strong. Resist it. The nest inside still needs to send workers out, and a blocked entrance means they search for another exit. That exit is often on the inside, so the wasps appear in your room instead of at the wall.
The same applies to a gap in the ground, a hole in a fence or a crack under the eaves. Leave it open and keep away. Do not push anything in to see what is there, and do not pour water or other liquids into it.
Mistake two: going too close. Standing beside a nest to see where the wasps go, or putting a ladder against the wall, brings you into the flight path. A nest can hold 2,000 to 10,000 wasps or more at its peak in August, and they can swarm and sting when threatened. Watch from a distance, or from a window.
Mistakes three and four: swatting and chasing
Swatting a wasp indoors rarely works, and a missed swing makes the wasp defensive. Chasing one around the house with a cloth or a newspaper is how many stings happen, usually to the hand or the foot. Open a window, step away, and let it leave.
Likewise, do not trap a wasp against skin, clothing or a curtain. If one lands on you, keep still and let it fly off, or brush it away gently once it is moving. Wasps in clothing or hair are best dealt with by calmly removing the garment, not by slapping.
A related error is walking about barefoot in a house that has wasps. A wasp on the floor, on a towel or in a pile of washing is easy to step on or pick up. Keep shoes by the door in the warm months, and shake out clothes and towels that have been left on the floor or the line.
If you are stung, wash the area, take out the sting if it is visible and apply a cold pack. Call 999 for swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing, difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash. Anyone with a known allergy should speak to their GP.
Mistake five: ignoring the food
Even a nest in the roof does not remove the need for sensible housekeeping. Sweet drinks, fruit, pet food and sticky recycling pull in more wasps, and they make the whole house a more attractive stop. Rinse containers, cover food, close bin lids and wipe surfaces.
Many people find that their problem is entirely a food problem. A tidy kitchen, mesh at the windows and covered drinks outdoors are often enough on their own. If the visits stop within a day or two of the changes, you can put the matter behind you.
Mistake six: waiting too long. A small colony in May is a large one by August. If wasps are going to and from the same spot, watching for weeks lets the number of wasps grow, and the job gets harder for you and no easier for us.
What works better
- Stay calm, open a window and give a stray wasp room to leave.
- Keep food and drink covered and bins closed.
- Fit mesh screens to windows that stay open.
- Watch for a flight line from a safe distance and note where it goes.
- Keep children, pets and visitors away from any suspected entrance.
- Leave holes and nests alone, and get a professional to treat them.
Colonies are founded from late April depending on the weather, so the signs may show from late spring. Early action is simpler than late action.
Finally, keep a record. If you are renting, a note of when the wasps were first seen and when you reported them is useful when you speak to your landlord or agent. Who is responsible for arranging the treatment depends on your tenancy agreement, so read it or ask before assuming either way.
Getting help
Wasp nest treatment with us is a fixed £90 per nest, and £35 for an additional nest at the same property. No call-out charge, open seven days a week, and same-day service is offered. We confirm the price on the phone before the technician visits, and we do no work until you agree.
Ring 0113 347 0014 or use the booking form on the contact page. Say where the wasps are entering and whether anybody is allergic to stings. Our technicians are trained and fully insured, and work in homes and commercial premises. You may also ask at booking whether the empty nest can be taken down.
Wasps on your property in Moortown?
Fixed price £90 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.