Advice on wasps and hornets

Unlike bees, wasps do not need a reason to attack. We do not advise residents to treat a wasps/hornets nest themselves.   

There is a charge for all treatment of wasps and hornets.

• If you find a wasps/hornets nest on your property in the early part of the year (January-April) it is almost certainly an old nest from the previous year
• It is very rare for wasps to use the same nest twice
• Wasps don't only build nests in trees, lofts etc. They can burrow into the ground or build nests in spaces such as bird boxes or car engines.

Our officers do not remove wasps/hornets nests. Once there is no activity around  the nest after it has been treated, or the wasps vacate the nest at the end of the season, it is safe to dispose of it yourself.  To do this, you should put a carrier/bin bag over the whole of the nest and knock it with a broom.  It will fall into the bag and can then be disposed of in your household rubbish bin.  

Always ensure that there is no activity at all around the nest before you attempt to dispose of it.  
You must give the treatment three to four days to work effectively. It will not immediately kill the wasps/hornets. Once the treatment has been carried out you should ensure that nobody approaches the nest as the wasps/hornets inside could be very angry at having their territory invaded. Not all the wasps/hornets will be inside the nest at the time of the treatment. The ones returning to the nest after treatment has taken place will absorb the insecticide and will then die off.

Treating wasp, bee and insect stings/bites