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Pest Types
All information in this section of our website is taken from the Pest Fact Sheets which are published on the Harrow County Council website. We would like to thank the Harrow County Council Web Team for their kind permission allowing us to reproduce these fact sheets.
All information in this section of our website is taken from the Pest Fact Sheets which are published on the Harrow County Council website. We would like to thank the Harrow County Council Web Team for their kind permission allowing us to reproduce these fact sheets.
Wasps
In April, queen wasps emerge from their winter hibernation in lofts, sheds or other frost-free areas. Each will construct a small nest of a papery substance made from chewed wood fibres. The nest will be about the size of a golf ball and may be in a loft, air brick or similar sheltered situation. About 15 eggs are laid inside and the resulting grubs are fed on insects caught by the queen. At the end of May, these new workers will be fully developed and they then help by feeding the next generation of grubs, enlarging the nest and protecting the colony. These workers will fly up to 400 metres from the nest to find food.
Summer
By late summer, the colony will have grown to the size of a football and may contain over 5000 wasps. At this stage, the work of rearing the young ceases. The wasps may now indulge their appetites for ripe fruits and other sweet foods. This is usually the stage when they become a nuisance and will sting if annoyed.
Summer
By late summer, the colony will have grown to the size of a football and may contain over 5000 wasps. At this stage, the work of rearing the young ceases. The wasps may now indulge their appetites for ripe fruits and other sweet foods. This is usually the stage when they become a nuisance and will sting if annoyed.
Autumn
The worker wasps all die in the autumn as the weather gets cold, but a few hundred young queen wasps from each colony will seek shelter elsewhere to hibernate over winter. Usually around 2% of them survive, and in April they emerge and start new colonies of their own.
Nuisance Wasps
If you are troubled by a few wasps then you may wish to use a household flying insect aerosol to kill them. Always read the label before use. Remember that some insecticides are not safe for use near food. Another technique is to make a wasp trap. Half fill a jam jar with beer or water with a couple of spoonfuls of jam. Add a drop of washing up liquid and then cover the top with foil fixed in place by a rubber band. Poke a hole through this lid with your finger. Wasps attracted in by the sweet smell will be trapped and drown. Of course there is no need to kill every wasp you see. Throughout the summer they are performing a useful task of killing hundreds of other insects that are themselves a problem in the home and garden. So if they are tolerable, leave them alone. On the other hand, if you are being pestered by dozens of wasps daily then there is probably a colony nearby you may wish to destroy.
Colonies
Wasp nests can often be located by careful observation on a sunny day when they are most active. By following the line of flight you may be able to identify the hole leading to the nest in a roof, air brick, shed or compost heap. The colony will die in autumn and will never be used again. You may therefore decide to wait and let the wasps die off naturally.DIY treatment You can use an insecticidal powder or a special aerosol liquid jet to destroy the colony yourself. However, you should asses the risks and only use a product labelled as suitable for wasp NESTS. Do not use an ordinary aerosol fly spray on a large colony; it is not penetrating enough and can make the wasps act aggressively. Do not try this treatment from a ladder or in an unboarded loft. You may be stung and then fall.
Treatments are easiest after dark, especially if the weather is cold. Close nearby doors and windows. Wear dark coloured clothing. Apply the powder or jet of liquid as near the entrance to the nest as possible. The powder acts slowly. Wasps going into the nest carry enough of the poison in to also kill the queen and grubs. If the colony isn't completely dead after a few days then a second treatment is required. You might try tying a spoon on the end of a broom handle to pour the powder from a distance. The liquid treatments fill the colony with toxic fumes that destroy all the wasps within minutes. However, it is only effective if you can direct the chemical close to the nest entrance. The chemical is also an effective paint stripper! As with all insecticides, you must carefully follow the instructions on the label. Avoid breathing in any of the chemicals. Wash your hands afterwards.
Stings
Wasps will sting if provoked and this can be very painful. The venom can produce considerable swelling as well as discomfort. The usual treatment is washing with soap and water then applying something cold to reduce swelling. Pharmacists also have special sprays and creams which help reduce the pain and inflammation. Very occasionally, stings are dangerous, such as when a swollen tongue obstructs breathing, or an allergic response creates a severe shock. In these cases, medical aid is needed immediately.
If you are unable to deal with a common pest problem satisfactorily, then contact Commercial Pest Control London. Our rates are competitive and we will get the job done fast and efficiently. For a professional service call Commercial Pest Control London today on freephone 0800 043 2056
The worker wasps all die in the autumn as the weather gets cold, but a few hundred young queen wasps from each colony will seek shelter elsewhere to hibernate over winter. Usually around 2% of them survive, and in April they emerge and start new colonies of their own.
Nuisance Wasps
If you are troubled by a few wasps then you may wish to use a household flying insect aerosol to kill them. Always read the label before use. Remember that some insecticides are not safe for use near food. Another technique is to make a wasp trap. Half fill a jam jar with beer or water with a couple of spoonfuls of jam. Add a drop of washing up liquid and then cover the top with foil fixed in place by a rubber band. Poke a hole through this lid with your finger. Wasps attracted in by the sweet smell will be trapped and drown. Of course there is no need to kill every wasp you see. Throughout the summer they are performing a useful task of killing hundreds of other insects that are themselves a problem in the home and garden. So if they are tolerable, leave them alone. On the other hand, if you are being pestered by dozens of wasps daily then there is probably a colony nearby you may wish to destroy.
Colonies
Wasp nests can often be located by careful observation on a sunny day when they are most active. By following the line of flight you may be able to identify the hole leading to the nest in a roof, air brick, shed or compost heap. The colony will die in autumn and will never be used again. You may therefore decide to wait and let the wasps die off naturally.DIY treatment You can use an insecticidal powder or a special aerosol liquid jet to destroy the colony yourself. However, you should asses the risks and only use a product labelled as suitable for wasp NESTS. Do not use an ordinary aerosol fly spray on a large colony; it is not penetrating enough and can make the wasps act aggressively. Do not try this treatment from a ladder or in an unboarded loft. You may be stung and then fall.
Treatments are easiest after dark, especially if the weather is cold. Close nearby doors and windows. Wear dark coloured clothing. Apply the powder or jet of liquid as near the entrance to the nest as possible. The powder acts slowly. Wasps going into the nest carry enough of the poison in to also kill the queen and grubs. If the colony isn't completely dead after a few days then a second treatment is required. You might try tying a spoon on the end of a broom handle to pour the powder from a distance. The liquid treatments fill the colony with toxic fumes that destroy all the wasps within minutes. However, it is only effective if you can direct the chemical close to the nest entrance. The chemical is also an effective paint stripper! As with all insecticides, you must carefully follow the instructions on the label. Avoid breathing in any of the chemicals. Wash your hands afterwards.
Stings
Wasps will sting if provoked and this can be very painful. The venom can produce considerable swelling as well as discomfort. The usual treatment is washing with soap and water then applying something cold to reduce swelling. Pharmacists also have special sprays and creams which help reduce the pain and inflammation. Very occasionally, stings are dangerous, such as when a swollen tongue obstructs breathing, or an allergic response creates a severe shock. In these cases, medical aid is needed immediately.
If you are unable to deal with a common pest problem satisfactorily, then contact Commercial Pest Control London. Our rates are competitive and we will get the job done fast and efficiently. For a professional service call Commercial Pest Control London today on freephone 0800 043 2056
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