There are a number of products you can buy online and in DIY shops that are marketed as wasp nest destroyers. In most cases these are aerosol foam sprays or dust packs that are puffed onto the nest. They are advertised as an effective and cost effective way of removing a wasps nest.
Before attempting to control a wasps nest yourself it is worth considering the effectiveness that these products will have. It is also worth considering the risks associated with DIY wasps nest removal.
This article is designed to advise you as to what to look for when dealing with wasps nests. It cannot advise you on every individual scenario that you may encounter. Wasps nests can contain several thousand wasps and therefore dealing with them is dangerous.
The information below is not an endorsement of dealing with wasps nests without suitable Personal Protective Equipment and experience.
Scenario 1 – Redundant or Potentially Redundant Nest Inside
The first scenario is that you go into your loft or a cavity space and find a strange alien structure that is somewhere between the size of a small football and potentially 3 feet in diameter. Wasps nests are normally cream coloured. As a nest gets older it will lose its colour and become a dull grey.
The first question you should consider is whether the nest is active. Time of year can be an indicator in this scenario – any time between January and April and there is a chance that the nest is dead. The reason for this is that wasps nests are seasonal, worker wasps have a lifespan that begins in Spring and ends in late Autumn/Winter.
If a nest is definitely redundant then it can be easily removed by putting a bin liner around the edge and pulling it down. The nest is made of a papier-mâché type material so it will easily come away and crumble as you take it down.
If you discover a nest between May and December, or if you see any signs of live wasps in or around the nest you should not attempt to remove it without suitable PPE – Personal Protective Equipment (please see below for further information).
Scenario 2 – Live or Potentially Live Wasps Nest Inside
The next scenario is that you go into a loft or cavity space and find the same structure but this time it has wasps crawling on the outside of it, or there are live wasps buzzing around in the loft. In this case the nest is live. Dealing with a wasps nest in this scenario is hazardous as you are in an enclosed space, often the only means of escape is via a loft ladder and you may have to navigate ceiling joists.
Scenario 3 – Live Wasps Nest Outside at Ground Level
Wasps nests are evidenced by a constant stream of wasps going back and forth to a certain spot. This is often a gap around a window or door, or from an air vent. Some wasps make their nests in bushes. which can be harder to deal with as you cannot see a precise entry point to the nest.
The principle of controlling a wasps nest is to apply an insecticide powder to the point where the wasps are going in an out. The wasps going in and out will bring the powder into the nest with them and contaminate it. This will kill the Queen wasp and workers inside.
After a wasps nest has been treated they will release a pheromone. This tells other wasps in the colony that the nest is being attacked and they will swarm around the area. Be careful when this happens as each wasp has the capacity to sting multiple times.
Scenario 4 – Live Wasps Nest Outside at Height
Wasps will often make their nests under a roof soffit or between roof tiles. As above, the indicator that there is an active nest is a stream of wasps going back and forth to a particular spot. The same principle for controlling the nest applies. Insecticide powder is sprayed into the area where the wasps are entering which they bring inside the nest to contaminate it.
Treating a wasps nest at at height, often from a ladder or platform introduces the added risk of falling. Our own experience of treating wasps nests is that it is hard not to panic when wasps swarm around you. Even with a protective suit on. It is a natural human reaction to take flight from a dangerous situation. On a ladder 7 metres above the ground it is very difficult to remove yourself safely from the situation.
Things you should do:
- Ensure that the nest you are treating is actually a wasps nest and not a honey bee nest. No insecticide products in the UK are licensed for the destruction of honey bees. Treating treating honey bees with insecticide is therefore against the law. If you believe you have a bees nest contact The British Beekeepers Association for advice.
- Wear suitable PPE. When treating a wasps nest we wear a full body beekeepers suit to cover our body, head and face. We also wear leather gauntlets to protect our hands. A dust mask is recommended for working in a loft and for using insecticide powders.
- Ensure you use the correct product depending on the location of the nest. An Aerosol Foam product is not going to work if you cannot see the actual nest.
- Carefully read and follow the instructions on the packaging of your chosen product.
- Ensure you plan your escape route just in case you need to remove yourself from the situation.
Things you should never do:
- Do not attempt to control a wasps nest using a home remedy such as washing up liquid or boiling water. These will not work and will put you in unnecessary danger.
- Do not try to block the entrance to the nest with expanding foam or another material. This usually results in trapped wasps finding their way into your home.
- If you have do not have experience of using ladders do not attempt to control a wasps nest using one. Never lean out of a window to try to control a wasps nest at height.
- Never try to physically remove a live wasps nest. There are videos on social media of people putting a plastic bag around live wasps nests and removing them. This is extremely dangerous – thus why it ends up on social media.
- Do not treat a wasps nest where there are children, pets or other people present. Wasps will swarm after a nest has been treated so people in the vicinity can be stung.
In summary, it is possible to remove a wasps nest yourself. A nest that is definitely redundant can be removed without any risk. However, removing or treating live nests comes with risk. You should consider whether the risk is worth the cost of using a professional pest control company.
When done with the correct experience and equipment removal of wasps nests is low low cost, fast and effective.