It’s that time of year again; the queen wasps are out of hibernation and setting up home for the new season. In many cases, their new house might be too close to your own home for comfort. How would you know?

Take a look up at your windows, or any holes in your brickwork. If you can see wasps taking off and landing, then it’s best to call us in sooner rather than later.

We have had a few calls already, but this early in the season – in most cases – the threatening villains were not wasps at all, but long slim bees called Masonry Bees or Miner Bees.

Masonry Bees

These are long and thin like wasps, but they are usually darker in colour, often appearing predominately black with some slightly paler colouring, possibly brown. As their name implies, they will often be seen popping in and out of holes in walls, or little air vents.

Miner bees

This species likes to live in holes in the ground. They have the long thin shape characteristic of wasps, but are a bit darker in colour, and they like to live alone.

If you do have these visitors, be reassured. Neither bee is aggressive, and they usually disappear after a few weeks without any treatment needed.

Wasps

Distinctively dressed in black and yellow stripes, wasps will enter holes in the wall or ground, but by the time most people start to notice them they are going in and out in numbers. Wasps can build and develop a huge colony, which can number between 3000 and 5000 individuals. You don’t want them buzzing around your rafters!

Initially the wasp larvae are fed on proteins supplied by the adult worker wasps in the form of many type of insects from green fly to small moths and everything else they can carry back to the nest. Later the wasp will feed on sweet substances and nectar where they can get it. Its at this point the wasps can become a real pest when they turn up uninvited at your barbecue or garden party.

Where wasps like to set up home

With the rise in the number of wood-burning fires, queen wasps are often found sculpting their bikes (NESTS) out of the plentiful wood supply from the logs, or even from the wood store itself. The wasp nests are also being found regularly in the wood store, so beware!

Wasps also like to build their nest is in the eaves of your house; at gutter level; in the shed; in airbricks; around window frames or doors; or in garages. Bushes and hedges are also popular, as is the gap under tiles or slate leading to the attic space.

You should also check your child’s playhouse or slide, if there is a cover over the top of it.

How Do Wasps Sting?

Wasps can inflict painful stings when provoked, and if an individual is susceptible, these stings can be very serious indeed.

If you are concerned, call us at ACTIVE PEST SOLUTIONS on 07764 768151.

We regularly destroy wasp nests that are 2 – 3 feet in diameter, but the earlier the bike is dealt with the better.

No matter what the size or location of your wasp bike, give us a call. I believe we are the lowest cost wasp nest removal company around Fife or Perth & Kinross, and we are members of the FIFE TRUSTED TRADER SCHEME and THE BETTER BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP in Perth.

Have a great summer!