Finding a wasp nest can be stressful. Some nests are small and easy to spot, while others are hidden in walls or the ground. Here are simple, safety-first ways to deal with a nest.
1. Identify What You Have
Take a note of the nest shape, its location and the colour and size of the wasps. Open, umbrella-shaped combs are usually paper wasps. Mud tubes belong to mud daubers. A stream of yellow-and-black wasps to a hole in the ground or a wall may be European wasps.
2. Keep People and Pets Away
Rope off the area if you can, and tell everyone in the household about the nest. Keep doors and windows nearby closed.
3. Don't Disturb the Nest
Avoid knocking, blocking or spraying. Wasps that are disturbed can become defensive, and blocked entrances can push wasps into your home.
4. Take Photos From a Distance
If it is safe, take a photo from a distance and note any signs of activity, such as wasps entering a hole. This helps a removal team prepare.
5. Remove Attractions
Tidy food, drink and pet food, close the bins and clear fallen fruit. It won't remove the nest, but it reduces the number of wasps around you.
6. Get the Nest Treated and Removed
The safest and most effective approach is to have the nest treated at the source and removed. A removal team identifies the wasp, treats the nest and removes it, and can advise you on preventing another nest. Nests in roof spaces, wall cavities, the ground or at height should never be tackled without the right equipment.
7. Check Again Each Spring
Queens shelter through winter and start new nests in spring. A quick check of eaves, sheds, pergolas and other sheltered spots each spring catches nests while they are small.
Ready to Request a Service?
Target Wasp Removal works seven days a week across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra. Call 0416 540 315 or send the quote form for a clear written quote after inspection.