Professional Wasp Control Services in the UK

Wasps are one of the most common and feared summer pests in the UK. While they play a useful role in controlling other insect populations, their aggressive behaviour and painful stings can pose serious risks to households, businesses, and outdoor activities. At Shire Pest Solutions, we provide expert wasp control and nest treatment services to keep your property safe.

Understanding Wasps and Their Life Cycle

The queen wasp, larger than the average worker (about 20mm), hibernates through winter and emerges in spring to start building a new nest. She lays eggs that develop into sterile female workers, who forage for food and maintain the nest. By late summer, one nest may produce up to 30,000 wasps. As winter approaches, workers die off while new queens seek sheltered spots to hibernate, restarting the cycle each year.

What Do Wasps Eat?

Wasps are natural predators, feeding on insects and helping to keep pest numbers down. However, during summer peaks, worker wasps seek sugary foods and drinks. This behaviour often makes them a nuisance at barbecues, picnics, outdoor parties, and around bins.

Where Do Wasps Build Nests?

Wasps prefer sheltered and protected locations. Common nesting sites include:

• Lofts, attics, and roof spaces
• Garden sheds and outbuildings
• Air brick vents and cavities
• Underground burrows
• Bushes, trees, and hedgerows

Nests are built from chewed wood mixed with saliva, creating a strong, lightweight, and waterproof paper-like structure.

Why Control Wasps?

Wasps can sting repeatedly and often attack if their nest is disturbed, sometimes without much provocation. Their presence can be especially concerning for households with children, pets, or individuals allergic to stings. Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) are rare but potentially life-threatening. In the UK, a small number of fatalities from wasp stings occur each year.

Are Wasps Dangerous to Health?

Wasps are not known to transmit diseases and are not considered a major public health threat. However, their stings can be extremely painful and dangerous for those with allergies. Children, the elderly, and allergy sufferers are at higher risk of severe reactions. In cases of dizziness, breathing difficulties, or swelling after a sting, medical help should be sought immediately.

How to Prevent Problems with Wasps

• Keep bins sealed and away from entrances
• Avoid leaving sweet foods and drinks uncovered outdoors
• Seal entry points such as vents and cracks where wasps could build nests
• Check lofts, sheds, and outbuildings regularly for signs of nest activity

Why Professional Wasp Nest Removal Is Essential

Treating a wasp nest without training can be extremely dangerous. Wasps inside the nest will defend it aggressively, posing a risk of multiple stings. Professional treatment does not require physical nest removal, but instead focuses on safely applying insecticidal treatments to eliminate the colony. At Shire Pest Solutions, our technicians have the expertise, tools, and access to professional-use insecticides that are not available to the public.

Professional Wasp Control with Shire Pest Solutions

If you have a wasp problem, contact Shire Pest Solutions for safe and effective treatment. Even if nests are located at high or difficult-to-reach points, we have the equipment to deal with them safely. After treatment, wasp activity quickly subsides, although a few wasps may remain briefly as the colony dies off. In most cases, no follow-up visit is needed. Our priority is ensuring your property remains wasp-free, safe, and secure.