Wasps in Winter

In Pests

Wasps in January

As the Winter progresses wasp problems become fewer. This is because by January the Queen Wasps (and Queen Hornets) are in ‘proper’ hibernation. The fertile Queens of both wasps and hornets are the only forms to survive the Winter. No nests function in the Winter. They have all died out, and can’t be reused. Queens will all attempt to make new nests in the Spring.

Although lofts provide a safe easy place for them to hibernate they are susceptible to artificial light and heat which can ‘fool’ the Queens or Hornets to come out of hibernation early. In most cases most reported problems in January are actually Queens but many people think they are hornets due to their size. PEST UK has many years of experience dealing with these pests.

PESTUK Treatment

If Queen Wasps and Hornets are causing problems then it is possible to treat them either by using an insecticide ‘fog’ in the loft and/or a residual insecticide spray to walls and ceilings. Treatments such as these will not eliminate the problem but certainly reduce it. An insecticide ‘Fog’ is applied to large voids such as lofts using a Fogging machine. This is similar to using a massive can of fly spray.

The disadvantage of this compared to surface spraying is that it is not very residual but for a residual insecticide surface spray to work the surfaces have to be generally smooth, clean and dust free, not the types of conditions you get in a loft. Any wasps that crawl over the surfaces treated with the residual insecticide spray or come into contact with the insecticide fog will absorb the insecticide and die but due to the Queen Wasps having a slow metabolism at this time of year this may take some time.

To book a treatment with PESTUK please either call us or email us on-

0330 100 2811

services@pestuk.com

For more information on wasps please visit the BPCA’s page.