If you have noticed a wasp nest in your shed, it is essential to take action before the infestation becomes a bigger problem. Wasps are aggressive and can be dangerous, especially if you have an allergy to their stings. In this blog, we will discuss the risks associated with a wasp nest in a shed and recommend using a professional service to ensure the safe removal of the nest.

Risks Associated with a Wasp Nest in Sheds

A wasp nest in a shed can pose various risks to you and your property. Here are some of the most common risks associated with a wasp nest in shed:

  1. Wasp stings: Wasps are aggressive when they feel threatened, and their stings can be extremely painful, especially if you have an allergy. Wasps can sting multiple times, which can lead to severe health complications, including anaphylaxis.

  2. Structural damage: Wasps can chew through wood, cardboard, and other materials to build their nests. Over time, this can cause significant structural damage to your shed, which can be costly to repair.

  3. Infestation: A single wasp nest in your shed can quickly turn into a full-blown infestation if left untreated. The more wasps you have in your shed, the higher the risk of being stung.

  4. Property damage: Wasps can cause damage to your property, including chewing through electrical wires and other materials.

  5. Health risks: Wasps can carry harmful bacteria, including E. coli and Salmonella, which can cause serious health problems if they come into contact with food or other surfaces in your shed.

Another risk associated with wasp nests in sheds is that they can attract other pests such as rodents and birds. These pests are attracted to the sweet nectar produced by the wasps and will often try to steal it from the nest. This can lead to further damage to your shed and increase the risk of infestations.

How to Identify a Wasp Nest in your Shed

Identifying a wasp nest in your shed is the first step to taking action to remove it safely. Here are some signs that you may have a wasp nest in your shed:

  1. Increased wasp activity: If you notice an increase in wasp activity in or around your shed, there is a good chance that you have a nest nearby.

  2. Visible nest: Wasps build their nests out of a papery material that resembles gray or brown cardboard. If you can see a visible nest in your shed, it is essential to take action immediately.

  3. Presence of wasps: If you notice a high number of wasps flying around your shed, it is likely that there is a nest nearby.

  4. Chewed wood or cardboard: If you notice that wood or cardboard in your shed has been chewed, it could be a sign that wasps are building a nest.

 wasp nest identification

How to Remove a Wasp Nest in Shed

Removing a wasp nest in a shed is not a task that should be taken lightly. It is essential to take the proper precautions to ensure your safety and the safety of others in the area. Here are some tips for removing a wasp nest in your shed:

  1. Wear protective clothing: Before attempting to remove a wasp nest, it is essential to wear protective clothing, including long sleeves, pants, and gloves. It is also recommended to wear a hat with a veil to protect your face.

  2. Use a wasp spray: You can purchase a wasp spray from your local hardware store to remove the nest. Follow the instructions carefully and ensure that you are using the spray in a well-ventilated area.

  3. Seal off the area: Once you have removed the nest, it is essential to seal off the area to prevent wasps from returning. Use caulk or another sealant to cover any gaps or holes in your shed.

  4. Dispose of the nest: After removing the nest, it is important to dispose of it properly. Seal the nest in a plastic bag and dispose of it in your outdoor trash bin.

How to Prevent Wasp Nests from Forming

There are several ways that homeowners can prevent wasp nests from forming in their sheds:

  1. Keep your shed clean and tidy - Wasps are attracted to areas where there is food debris or rubbish lying around.

  2. Seal any cracks or gaps - Wasps will use any gaps or cracks as entry points into your shed.

  3. Use insect repellent - Insect repellent sprays can help deter wasps from entering your shed.

  4. Use decoys - Some homeowners use decoys such as fake wasp nests or fake predators (such as owls) to deter real wasps from nesting in their sheds.

  5. Call in an expert - If you have had problems with wasp nests before, it’s best to call in an expert pest control service such as “The Wasp Specialist in Dublin” for advice on how best to prevent future infestations.

Why You Should Use a Professional Wasp Nest Removal Service

Removing a wasp nest in your shed can be dangerous and should be left to the professionals. Here are some reasons why you should consider using a professional wasp nest removal service:

  1. Safety: Professional wasp nest removal services have the proper training and equipment to safely remove the nest without risking injury to you or others.

  2. Efficiency: Professional wasp nest removal services can remove the nest quickly and efficiently, minimizing the risk of a more significant infestation.

  3. Expertise: Professional wasp nest removal services have the expertise and knowledge to identify the type of wasp and the best method for removal.

  4. Guarantee: Reputable professional wasp nest removal services offer a guarantee on their work, giving you peace of mind that the nest will be removed safely and effectively.

If you have a wasp nest in a shed, this can pose various risks to you and your property. Identifying the signs of a wasp nest in your shed and taking action to remove it is essential to prevent a more significant infestation. While you can attempt to remove the nest yourself, it is recommended to use a professional wasp nest removal service for your safety and efficiency.

Don't hesitate to contact The Wasp Specialist in Dublin for your wasp nest removal needs.

Call The Wasp Specialist in Dublin: (01) 452 3680 

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One of the most important aspects of maintaining the upkeep of lush and healthy plant life in your garden is to know the ins and outs of insects that can make their habitat on your trees. Wasps usually live in gardens and you can see them among tree branches. Being more familiar with the behavior of these flying insects can help keep you and your garden safe.

For homeowners who have gardens with trees, it is vital to consider the ecosystem as a whole. Most of the time when people spot a wasp nest, they rush to call for a wasp nest removal service.

But, before you get the help of professionals for proper wasp nest removal, there are a few things you need to know first.

How to Identify the Presence of a Wasp Nest in Your Garden

How will you even know if there is a wasp nest in your garden, then? For starters, you should know exactly what you are searching for. These insects often build their own structures or live in spaces like empty foxholes or hollowed trees, for instance. 

If there are no obvious and visible structures that may indicate the presence of a wasp nest in the garden, be sure to watch out for consistent points of exit and entry. These are parts of the tree where wasps seem to enter and exit often. When wasps put up their house on tree branches, their nest will be easy to spot. 

Mainly grey in colour, wasp nests look like grey paper stuck together. It then forms what resembles a tiny paper mache football. You have to find a wasp nest as soon as possible. These nests can grow in size quickly within a short span of time. Be sure to inspect your tree branches and observe the flight patterns of these insects. Doing so will help you determine when it is necessary for you to take immediate action. 

Wasp-Nest-in-Your-Garden

Dangers and Risks of Having Wasp Nests in Gardens

Wasp nests are no doubt one of the worst nightmares you can ever have in your garden or home and hundreds can be seen every year all over Dublin. 

But, what most people don’t know is that many of these insects actually have predictable behaviour that will give you an idea right away of the danger you might be facing at the moment. 

You might end up getting stung once you venture too close to the wasp nest or if you find yourself standing between the nest and the wasps.

Once disturbed, wasps can become extremely animated and start pouring out of their nest and on the surface. In just a matter of 15 minutes, the insects will go back inside the nest again and things will return to normal.

The real danger occurs if the wasps get disturbed first. This is similar to pulling a grenade’s pin. The wasp nest has been primed and prepared to unleash everything it got on the target or threat.

Just imagine kicking a ball at a fence or hedge where a wasp nest is attached. The wasps will swarm out and start settling down after several minutes. But, take note that not all insects go back inside. After several minutes, the unsuspicious person who kicked the ball will come to collect it, thinking it is safe.

However, once the person gets within 6 feet of the wasp nest, the wasps that rest on the surface of the nest will see the person and just like that, the insects will attack as a single unit even before the person gets the chance to turn around and run. 

Threats of Wasp Nests in Your Garden Trees

Wasps are infamous for their rather terrifying reputation of being among the most feared and aggressive pests in Dublin and other parts of the world.

There are some people, like the elderly, young children, and those with allergies who tend to be more seriously affected by the stings of wasps. It is the reason why, depending on whether you often stay in your garden or not, the best solution is often treating the wasp nest.

If there are more activities in the garden, people may get close to the tree where the wasp nest is attached more often. It is also a bad sign the moment the wasps get distressed. Once aggravated, these insects will emit pheromones signalling the nearby colony members. The other wasps will fly from your garden tree to defend their comrade. 

Your trees themselves are also at risk if these bear fruits. Wasps have the tendency of burrowing into the flesh of fruits like apples and pears to feed on their sugary juices. There is actually nothing much you can do to prevent this. The only thing you can do is to get rid of the wasp nest in garden trees.

Watch Out for the Different Forms of Wasp Nests

It is always a good decision to watch out for the presence of even a small wasp nest in your garden, yard, and home. The best ways how to control and get rid of a wasp nest will depend on where it is located.

Your first option is to ignore it. If there are only minimal stings and the nest is found away from human activities, it will be better to simply leave it alone. Once freezing temperatures kick in at fall, all the workers and the queen will be killed as these don’t survive during winter. Your best choice is to avoid doing anything if you can wait until then.

But, if there are risks of stings and you can no longer put up with them, nest treatment is necessary. In general, there are three common wasp nest situations and each of them gets controlled in different ways.

Exposed wasp nests

Exposed wasp nests are those hanging from horizontal surfaces like tree branches or eaves of the house. It is a straightforward task to treat these nests and sometimes, you can do it on your own. 

You can use an aerosol insecticide can labelled for hornets and wasps and spray this on the entrance of the nest. But, be sure to do it late at night once the wasps no longer fly in and out of their nest. A single application is often enough to get rid of them. Just treat the nest again if there are any survivors.

Ground-nesting wasp nests

It is also common for wasps to nest in the ground, particularly in old rodent burrows. The opening leading to the nest is visible but not the actual nest itself. It is not easy to find these nests although people usually notice such nests during late summer.

Applying granular or dust insecticide is the best way of treating these nests. Again, you need to do it during the late evening activity after the wasp activity stopped. Avoid using liquid products since these are less effective in this case.

Hidden wasp nests

It can be very challenging to deal with nests hidden inside buildings. Similar to ground nests, the only thing visible is that space where the insects fly back and forth, with the actual nest remaining concealed. Wasps commonly form their nests in spaces below stairs, attics, and wall voids.

Avoid spraying the opening of the nest. It is ineffective since the nest doesn’t line up with the location of the opening, which means that the insecticide doesn’t reach the nest where the colony resides. Similarly, you should never try blocking the opening just so the wasps won’t be able to get out. 

When you do any of these, the wasps will only go to a different direction and most of the time, it means that they will find their way inside your house. People often end up being swarmed by wasps after they spray or seal a nest opening. 

The best method of control here is applying dust on the opening. The product should be labelled for use around and in homes.

Are Wasp Nests Beneficial for Garden Trees?

Despite all the bad rap that these flying insects get, wasps actually play an important role in your garden’s ecosystem. Caterpillars and other insects are some of their main sources of food and they feed these to their grubs. 

Having a healthy wasp population in your garden can help ensure that the population of these insects won’t get out of hand. It will also ensure that the leaves of your trees will not be destroyed and overrun. Even if this is not really a good enough reason for having an active wasp nest in your garden trees, this should also give you a better understanding of why they exist in the first place. 

For this reason, it is best to get rid of a wasp nest in garden trees if it poses a safety and health risk to you and your family or the public.

 

At the end of the day, you need to ask yourself: can I undertake a wasp treatment safely by myself or should I use a professional wasp nest removal service in Dublin? to help treat a wasp nest in the garden or inside your home?

 

When to Contact Pest Control Experts for Wasp Treatment

There are times when a wasp nest might be located in hard-to-reach areas like a tall tree, on the roof, or inside the cavity of your floorboards or wall. If it is impossible for you to access the nest or you already tried the do-it-yourself options mentioned above, your best move is to contact The Wasp Specialist in Dublin and let them deal with the wasp infestation.
In case you or a member of your family has an allergy to wasps, it is also important to call a professional who can deal with your problem at the soonest time possible. Never attempt getting close to the wasps if you have an allergy to their sting.

 wasp sting allergy

Ways to Keep Wasps Out of Your Garden

After the successful removal of wasp infestation, you can do the following to keep these insects out of your home for good:

  1. Reduce potential sources of food by covering trash with a lid, regularly cleaning up crumbs or spills, and avoiding food and pet food left unattended for a long time.
  2. Seal off exposed points of entry, specifically in your attic, basement, and roofing and around door and window frames.
  3. Avoid the use of perfumes and heavily scented candles and sprays inside the house since these can attract these nectar-loving pests.
  4. If there are smaller roofed items in your backyard like birdhouses and dog kennels, use aluminium for covering below the roof’s exposed part.

Call The Wasp Specialist in Dublin: (01) 452 3680 

Email Us: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

or fill out the Online Form

 

Common wasps are insects that don’t like interacting with people but they can sting you if provoked. Wasp stings tend to be quite painful for everyone and worse, life-threatening to people with allergies. If you have confirmed or you suspect that there is a wasp problem in your Dublin home, there are several basic things you need to know about these nasty flying insects, together with tips on how to naturally get rid of wasps, how to check for wasp infestations, and more.

Appearance of Wasps

To clear things up, common wasps (vespula vulgaris) are not bees with bodies that are usually longer and more slender. They often feed on other insects like spiders, caterpillars, flies, and nectar. Wasps have two wings, six legs, an exoskeleton, two antennae on the head, and a body divided to three primary parts namely the head, abdomen, and thorax.
Unlike bees, female wasps can sting repeatedly because their stinger has tiny barbs that don’t stick into the skin. The stinger of a female wasp can be found at the lower body’s tip that also acts as a reproductive organ where the eggs are laid. On the other hand, male wasps cannot sting.

How Do Wasps Find Their Way into Your Yard or Home?

There are three primary elements that can make wasps attracted to build their nest in your yard or home and these include the following:

  • Plantlife and nectar-filled and sweet flowers
  • Ideal spots for nesting like soffits, gutters, and eaves that provide protection
  • Sources of food like pet food bowls, garbage bags, outdoor eating spots with sticky spills or crumbs, or an abundance of spiders or insects

Aside from the fact that their sting can be painful, wasps can also be a fatal risk to someone allergic to the injected venom. Usually, symptoms of a wasp sting can include localized pain, itching, swelling, and mild site at the location of the sting.

Checking for Wasps in Your House

If you see a significant number of wasps that fly around your yard or home, there is a big possibility that there is a wasp nest somewhere in your property. If you want to locate a wasp nest, try observing a wasp from a distance to see the direction it flies. Another method you can do is leave out some food like canned tuna or pet food that will lure the insects before you cautiously follow them back to their nest.

Pay extra attention to holes where they might be crawling from. You might be able to spot a visible nest attached to trees, plants, bushes, under eaves or windowsills, or under siding and other overhangs along your house and even your dog’s kennel.

Once you noticed wasps inside your house, you might want to observe them closely to know their points of entry and exit in your home and the possible location of their nest. Check your home for torn screens, cracks around door and window frames, and unsealed vents for any sign that these insects might already be getting in and out of your home without you knowing it.

How Long Does a Wasp Infestation Last?

Wasps tend to establish a brand new colony every spring. With the mild weather in Dublin, this can start as early as the beginning of April. It is also very rare for them to use their old nest again. This means that on average, it is safe to expect that wasp infestations can last for not more than one year. It is also common for wasp colonies to build a new nest beside an existing nest. This is the reason why you need to eliminate these insects together with their nests right after your see and confirmed an infestation.

Steps to Follow to Getting Rid of Wasps

If a wasp colony has decided to take up residence in your backyard or home, you might be wondering how you can immediately get rid of these stinging insects. The steps listed below will teach you how you can kill wasps with the use of a homemade wasp killer and how you can create a DIY wasp trap to get rid of them once and for all.

  1. Wear the right safety materials and appropriate clothing.
    Before you even attempt to approach a wasp nest, make sure you cover yourself up in a long-sleeved top, long pants, gloves, closed-toe shoes, and goggles or glasses for eye protection.
  2. Use a powerful vacuum on your carpets, floors, mattress, and furniture if wasps found their way from their nest to the inside of your home.
    You can use the vacuum’s crevice tool attachment for going over any cracks or tight spaces because these are the areas where wasps often hide. A vacuum with disposable bags can be used so you can simply discard the bag in the outdoor garbage can right after you use it. You will also need to temporarily plug the access hole(s) wasps are using to get in.

Eliminate the wasp infestation.

You can try to use any or all of the methods below for treating a wasp infestation.

  • Nest drenching
    Use an insecticide specifically made for wasps to completely and heavily saturate the nest with it. Depending on the accessibility of the nest, you can use a spray with a long nozzle or a handheld spray. Be careful of wasps as they fly out of their nest and spray each when they emerge. If you are that you already killed off, destroy the nest right away.
  • Nest dusting
    It is a method that makes use of dust or powder versions of wasp insecticide for covering the nest and eventually killing off the wasp colony. This method doesn’t have the same level of effectiveness as nest drenching although this option is safer because you just need to drop the powder over the wasp nest and simply walk away. However, take note that this will require reapplication and it may take weeks before you can kill off the entire colony.
  • DIY wasp tray
    If you are not keen on the idea of using insecticides, you can create a homemade wasp trap on your own. Get a 2-litre soda bottle and cut around the bottle’s neck right under the tape. Put the bait at the bottle’s bottom that can include something sweet like honey or jam or a protein like luncheon meat. Add a small amount of vinegar to your bait to ensure that bees don’t get attracted to your trap. Lastly, unscrew and remove the bottle cap before you flip the upper portion of the bottle upside down so you can tuck this into the bottle’s bottom part.

Natural Ways to Get Rid of Wasps

There are a lot of home remedies you can try to eliminate wasps with the use of all-natural ingredients. There are many chemical-free methods to keep wasps away and prevent them from going back such as putting herbs with strong smells, e.g. eucalyptus, citronella, thyme, or spearmint near your windows, on the patio, and around the backyard.

You can even formulate a wasp-repelling spray with the use of essential oils with one teaspoon each of clove oil, geranium essential oil, lemongrass oil and six cups of water. Mix the ingredients in a clean spray bottle and thoroughly spray this on the nest at night, which is a time when wasps tend to be less active. You can repeat the procedure until the wasps leave their nest for good.

If you want a natural way of killing wasps instead of merely sending them off, prepare a spray mixing a cup of water and 3 tablespoons of lemon extract. Saturate the wasp nest with this solution at night or you can also directly spray this on the wasp while wearing your protective clothing.

When to Contact Pest Control Experts for Wasp Treatment

There are times when a wasp nest might be located in hard-to-reach areas like a tall tree, on the roof, or inside the cavity of your floorboards or wall. If it is impossible for you to access the nest or you already tried the do it yourself options mentioned above, your best move is to contact The Wasp Specialist in Dublin and let them deal with the wasp infestation.
In case you or a member of your family has an allergy to wasps, it is also important to call a professional who can deal with your problem at the soonest time possible. Never attempt getting close to the wasps if you have an allergy to their sting.

 wasp sting allergy

Ways to Keep Wasps Out of Your Dublin Home

After the successful removal of wasp infestation, you can do the following to keep these insects out of your home for good:

  1. Reduce potential sources of food by covering trash with a lid, regularly cleaning up crumbs or spills, and avoiding food and pet food left unattended for a long time.
  2. Seal off exposed points of entry, specifically in your attic, basement, and roofing and around door and window frames.
  3. Avoid the use of perfumes and heavily scented candles and sprays inside the house since these can attract these nectar-loving pests.
  4. If there are smaller roofed items in your backyard like birdhouses and dog kennels, use aluminium for covering below the roof’s exposed part.

Call The Wasp Specialist in Dublin: (01) 452 3680 

Email Us: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

or fill out the Online Form

 

What are the wasps we get in Ireland?

There are only two species of wasps in Ireland that people mostly notice: the Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris) and the German Wasp (Vespula germanica).  They are very similar in appearance, but the German wasp is slightly bigger.

common wasp vs german wasp 2

Queens have similar markings as workers, but they are bigger. It is very easy to differentiate them:

Profile view: The German wasp has a continuous yellow band behind the eye and the Common wasp has a black mark in the middle of it.

View from above: The German wasp abdomen has black bands with separate black dots, but the Common wasp has broader black bands merging with these dots.

 

The nests of German wasps are more greyish in colour than Common wasp nests, and also they are more likely to be built underground, in an abandoned rat or mouse nest. In Dublin, the nests start to be built as early as the beginning of April. The nests can become very large with up to 10,000 individuals and most of the time only have one entrance.

Both wasps have painful stings, but German wasps are less aggressive than Common wasps. Wasps eat sugary foods and proteins from insects and worms/caterpillars. They are social wasps and the workers spend the first part of their lives feeding the larvae in the nest until they hatch out of the nest and no longer need to be fed by these workers.


What attract wasps in our gardens

Once the worker wasps do not need to feed the young they are “free” and indulge their love for nectar (a sweet substance found in flowers) and this is when they get attracted to our gardens, lured by the wrong signals:

  • In summer adults and children tend to wear bright clothing, but bright colours attract wasps.
  • We also hold glasses of sweet drinks or eat ice cream which they can smell from a long distance.
  • Shampoos that have floral scents may also attract wasps.
  • Refuse bins – if you do not ensure that your outside bins have tightly closed lids, wasps may be attracted to the scent of their content. It is also preferable to keep your bins away from doors and windows.

More information

For more details about wasps and how to prevent them check our article on Basic Facts about Wasps and Ways to Get Rid of Them from Your Home

If you notice a wasp nest somewhere in your garden or your house, make sure you keep pets and children away. It is recommended to deal with the nest ASAP as it will only grow bigger during the summer months and the numerous wasps can become a threat to your family and neighbours, especially if they are allergic to stings.

If you need help to deal with wasps, contact The Wasp Specialist who is here to resolve any issues with Common and German wasps:

Call The Wasp Specialist: (01) 452 3680 

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The first wasp nests of the season have already started in Dublin! 


 queen wasp resting the wasp specialist dublin

Queen wasp coming out of hibernation

 

small 1 week old wasp built by a queen the wasp specialist

Small wasp nest built by a queen only (approx. 1 week)

queen german wasp building nest

Queen German wasp building its nest

 

 

small wasp nest above window the wasp specialist

New wasp nest hanging above a window (Terenure)

 

wasp nest in a bird house

Wasp nest started in a birdhouse!

Starting in April, queen wasps wake up from their winter hibernation and start building their nests. Thousands of them are built around Dublin every year.

After a few weeks, the small wasp nests become visible in virtually all areas around houses such as garden sheds, attics, eaves, trees, wall cavities and even under ground.

wasps building a nest the wasp specialistIs it safe to remove a wasp nest?

First of all, you should not go near a wasp nest unless you are completely sure that you are not allergic to wasp stings. An anaphylactic reaction is life threatening even with medical help.

If the wasp nest is small enough and easy to reach, you may be able to treat it with a spray, after making sure you wear some protection for your face, hands and ankles.

Wasps are very protective of their nest and approaching a wasp nest can be incredibly dangerous if the wasps suspect they are being attacked.

You should also treat the wasp nest as early as possible in the season before it gets too big, with thousands of wasps inside.

Once the nest has been treated, you can remove it after a few days, being careful as some wasps may be still inside it and not completely dead.

If the wasp nest is in a difficult-to-reach location or in a confined space, e.g. inside an attic or wall or underground level, you should not take a chance and get professional help. If wasps get alerted of your approach, they will fight in swarms, and each of them can sting multiple times.

Get Rid of Wasps with Professional Help

If you feel threatened by the proximity of wasps near your home or property, call in the most knowledgeable wasp treatment services in Dublin. Since 1998 The Wasp Specialist has removed thousands of wasp nests of all sizes, shapes and locations in Dublin North and Dublin South, and has earned the trust of businesses and the local community.

We are known for our punctuality, family and pet-friendly methods, so you can be assured of your safety while we carry out the job. All our wasp treatments are fully guaranteed.

Call The Wasp Specialist: (01) 452 3680 

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or fill out the Online Form

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Wasps can be useful around the garden when eating caterpillars and flies. But they can be a nuisance too when their nest grows near your home. They can sting and their persistence can be irritating; they also represent a threat to those who are allergic to stings. If you get stung on the neck or in the mouth, or if you develop symptoms of nausea, giddiness, pronounced swelling, strong pain after a sting, you should seek medical help immediately.

If you notice a lot of wasp activity around your property and you are not confident dealing with the risks on your own, Contact your local Wasp Specialist in Dublin for safe wasp prevention and removal.

Here is some interesting facts about wasps

1. Try not to kill a wasp near its nest as the venom contains a pheromone that attracts the other wasps and make them become more aggressive.

2. Wasps may sting over and over again.

3. Wasp stings usually wear off within a day, but for some people the venom causes anaphylactic shock (which can be fatal).

4. Wasp nests are made of papier mache coming from chewed up strips of bark.

5. A male wasp is called a "Drone". They die shortly after having mated with the Queen.

6. A wasp nest starts with only one queen each spring. She first raises a few worker wasps to bring food and make the nest larger.

7. In Ireland a nest can grow to 50,000 wasps during the summer. Check the huge wasp nest we removed from an attic in Dublin on the picture.

8. In the winter some new queens survive by hibernating in attics, tree bark, old rodent burrows or other sheltered space.

9. Wasps live all over the world except Antarctica.

10. A queen starts a new colony each spring.

The Wasp Specialist remove wasps around your home in Dublin North and South. Getting rid of a wasp nest without experience and protections can be risky for home or property owners. DIY wasp removal can expose you, your neighbours and family to the risk of wasp stings as they try to protect their nest from attack.

If you try DIY wasp nest treatment but don't get the entire nest, wasps that where not present can return and hang around your property for weeks, causing more risks. The Wasp Specialist has certified staff who can determine why the wasps are attracted to your property and where they come from. We can also provide solutions to remove nests and prevent their return.

Contact your local Wasp Specialist Dublin today:

Call: (01) 452 3680 

Email Us: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

or fill out the Online Form

How do wasps build their nests?

Wasp nests are made of a paper paste built with a mixture of wood fragments and saliva. The wood is collected by the wasps from neighbouring garden sheds, logs, fences, etc., and the fibre is extracted from the wasp's powerful mandibles. The resulting softwood pulp is then shaped and added to the nest.

wasp nest in golf bag

 

Do wasps die out in the wintertime?

In Ireland, all worker wasps die off in winter, generally from the beginning of December. Nevertheless, towards the end of the season, the nest produces several queen wasps that survive the winter by hibernating. The hibernation takes place inside the old nest or nearby in a sheltered location. The following April/May surviving queen wasps wake up from hibernation and start building up new nests.

Do wasps come back to their nest each year?

No. New queen wasps never reuse an existing nest. They build a brand new nest in spring, but it is common to have this new nest adjacent to an old one (in Dublin we regularly find up to 6 wasp nests in a single attic). If an old nest fills a gap in the eaves or a cavity wall, it may be a good strategy to leave it so there is no room for a new nest in the following years.

For how long do wasps live? 

Worker wasps, which are sterile females, live for 12 to 22 days. Fertile males (or drones) live for a few more days. Finally, queen wasps have a lifespan of approx. 12 months. 

Do wasps have a queen?

Every wasp nest has a queen who lay eggs. Worker wasps (females) may also lay eggs but they are not fertile and only produce male wasps. After the first group of adults has emerged, they assume the building of the nest and also care for the larvae and fetch food for the colony.

What do wasps eat?

Wasps feed from a wide assortment of insects, both adults and larvae. The social wasps found in Ireland are omnivorous, sustaining on dead insects but also on fallen fruits and nectar.

How many wasps are in a nest?

Wasp nests in Ireland contain between 3000 and 6000 wasps for the largest nests. What limits the expansion of the nest is not the cold weather killing the wasps but the scarcity of food as winter begins.

What plants repel wasps and hornets?

Some plants such as eucalyptus, citronella, mint and wormwood are naturally repellent to wasps. Try to introduce these beautiful plants in your garden and they will deter the wasps away.

             Eucalyptus

             Pink Eucalyptus

Do wasps and hornets sting?

Contrary to honey bees, hornets and wasps can sting several times and do not die after stinging. So if you get stung make sure you leave the area rapidly. Humans are more sensitive to hornet stings than wasps stings because their venom contains more acetylcholine. Despite their bad publicity, wasps provide very important ecological services, which include predation and parasitism of other insects and larvae.

Do wasps help with pollination?

Wasps look like honey bees but are not covered with fluffy hairs. Thus, pollen does not adhere as well to their bodies when moving from flower to flower and they are far less efficient at pollinating.

How big is the queen wasp?

Some species of queen wasps can achieve lengths of more than 1.5 inches, but in Ireland, common wasps are much smaller. Adult workers measure 12 to 17mm and the queen is slightly bigger (around 20mm).

queen wasp resting the wasp specialist dublin

Queen German wasp resting

Honeybee / Bumblebee / Wasp / Hoverfly illustrations

 

honeybee vs bumblebee wasp hoverfly carpenter bee paper wasp

 

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hoverfly pictureDo you see a lot of wasps flying around but cannot identify the nest location?

If you see a lot of wasps around your garden, especially around ivy or on tree leaves, the first thing you should make sure of is that they are not "Hoverflies", a very common insect in all Dublin areas (see picture). 

Hover flies look a lot like wasps, but they have a distinctive flattened abdomen. They are smaller than wasps and can fly perfectly "on the spot" without moving forward or backwards (unlike wasps). They do not sting or bite so you should pay no attention to them.

If you see wasps congregating around an area of your house (usually the roof or an air vent), it does not necessarily mean there is a wasp nest inside. There are two case scenarios which can give you the answer:

Scenario One: 

Wasps are flying in and out constantly through an aperture(s). This means there is a wasp nest hidden in the wall or eaves of your house. Such activity is illustrated in the video below.

Scenario Two:

You leave in a house that is identical to your neighbours, in an estate for instance. Wasps gather around an aperture(s), but they move more randomly around the area, often without focus, occasionally going in and out, but mostly flying around the area. This is a very common situation in Dublin, where many identical housing estates have been built in the last 50 years.

What happens in this situation is that some worker wasps get confused while returning to their nest and pick the wrong house! (see picture below)

housing estates similar houses examples

If you suspect this situation, you should walk up and down your street (4 or 5 houses each way) until you find the "scenario 1" above. You should then advise your neighbour to have the nest treated as there is nothing you can do to your house that will solve the wasp nest problem.

Professional Help

DIY Wasp nest removal can represent a health and safety risk for you, your family, and your neighbours. The Wasp Specialist technicians are experts in wasp nest removal in all Dublin areas. Regardless of the location and the size of the wasp nest, we can remove it safely. Our wasp nest treatments are also fully guaranteed!

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or fill out the Online Form

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