Wasps
Wasps can be a major nuisance, especially in summer when they become more aggressive. Unlike bees, wasps do not lose their sting and can attack multiple times, making them a serious threat to those allergic to stings. If you have a wasp nest on your property, it’s important to get it removed by professionals to avoid the risk of painful stings and infestations.
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Wasp Pest Control
While wasps play a role in the ecosystem by controlling insect populations, they become a serious pest when they nest in or around homes and businesses. Their aggressive behaviour, especially in late summer, makes them dangerous, and DIY removal attempts can provoke an attack. At First Pest Control, we provide fast, effective, and safe wasp nest treatments to keep your property pest-free.
General Wasp
The most frequently encountered wasp, easily recognised by its yellow and black striped body. Nests in lofts, wall cavities, sheds, and underground burrows.
German Wasp
Similar in appearance to the common wasp but slightly larger, with distinctive black dots on the face. Highly aggressive, particularly in late summer.
Tree Wasp
Found in woodland areas and gardens, known for its quick temper and strong defensive response when its nest is disturbed
Median Wasp
Identified by its reddish-brown markings, this species prefers nesting in bushes and shrubs, often unnoticed until disturbed
How we deal with Wasps & Hornets
We begin to receive calls for wasp & hornet nests towards the end of June and early July. Wasp & hornet nests in 2025 & onwards will be more challenging than any other year that’s ever been before.
The reason is, that we used an insecticide called ‘Ficam D’ which was a great product and dealt with wasps within minutes. This product has now been banned in the UK from January 2025 and its no longer legal to use.
There is no product that comes close to Ficam D when treating wasps and therefore we’re expecting that there will be a percentage of call backs on treatments across the UK which has to be factored into the price. This news will alarm beekeepers as wasps raid bee colonies and they’re certainly the biggest threat to bees in late summer. It will also alarm people who have allergic reactions to wasp stings.
As a result of the government banning this insecticide, we’re left with several other products which are less effective hence the reason why we’re offering unlimited visits for each nest that we treat. We must factor this into our pricing, so please ensure when you phone your pest professional, ask them about free re visits and which product they’re using.
Many wasp nests are located high up on the roof which can pose a risk to health and safety if you’re trying to deal with the issue yourself. We have specialised equipment to reach into difficult nests. Up to 95% of nests are treated from the outside in. This is due to it being more effective and safer for you as we’re not bringing chemicals into your property.
Please ensure that you’re using a professional company with good reviews. Please also ensure that the company is using the correct and legal insecticide.
There is no product that comes close to Ficam D when treating wasps and therefore we’re expecting that there will be a percentage of call backs on treatments across the UK which has to be factored into the price. This news will alarm beekeepers as wasps raid bee colonies and they’re certainly the biggest threat to bees in late summer. It will also alarm people who have allergic reactions to wasp stings.
As a result of the government banning this insecticide, we’re left with several other products which are less effective hence the reason why we’re offering unlimited visits for each nest that we treat. We must factor this into our pricing, so please ensure when you phone your pest professional, ask them about free re visits and which product they’re using.
Many wasp nests are located high up on the roof which can pose a risk to health and safety if you’re trying to deal with the issue yourself. We have specialised equipment to reach into difficult nests. Up to 95% of nests are treated from the outside in. This is due to it being more effective and safer for you as we’re not bringing chemicals into your property.
Please ensure that you’re using a professional company with good reviews. Please also ensure that the company is using the correct and legal insecticide.
DIY Pest Control
Please don’t tackle a wasp or hornet nest unless you have the knowledge and equipment to do it safely. The DIY treatments below should NOT be attempted, but we often see them tried before the customer calls a professional.
- 1. Don’t climb onto the roof to throw ant powder at the entrance.
- 2. Don’t seal the entrance with silicone. You’ll be stung, and the wasps or hornets will simply find another way in and out.
- 3. Don’t hose water into the nest. You could damage your property and make the wasps or hornets aggressive.
- 4. Never try to set fire to a wasp or hornet nest, whether it is in a tree, a bush or your house.
These may sound obvious, but we have seen every one of them when people have tried to save money by doing it themselves. Wasps are far more aggressive than hornets and attack in numbers, and because their sting is smooth rather than barbed like a bee’s, they can sting again and again. It isn’t worth the risk, so please call us to deal with the nest.