Wasp Control and Wasp Nest Removal
For prompt service and fast results
Professional Wasp Control Canberra, Queanbeyan and Surrounds
If you’ve found a wasp nest on your property, particularly a European wasp nest, you need professional wasp control to remove the nest as quickly as possible.
Wasps are not only annoying, preventing you from enjoying your outdoor areas, but they represent a significant health risk – their sting is painful and can cause severe allergic reaction.
Dealing with a wasp nest is a job for professionals as they can be dangerous to treat due to their highly aggressive behaviour. In addition, although some nests can be easily spotted, in other situations it takes skill to locate the nest, especially if it is on a neighbouring property.
Mann’s Pest Control are your local wasp control experts and can ensure your wasp problem is dealt with swiftly and safely, eliminating the nest to prevent the wasps returning.
Professional Pest Control Wasps
Before we start a pest control wasp treatment we inspect the property to locate the nest(s). Although some nests are easy to spot, sometimes the nest (especially European wasp nests) may be hidden or on an neighbouring property.
During our inspection, it will be helpful to show our team locations of where you have seen wasp activity. This might be a particular area of lawn, around doors and window frames, or near the eaves or roof. These hotspots could be potentially be where the nest is located.
If we can locate the nest, we destroy the wasp nest by blowing an insecticide powder directly into the nest. The professional wasp products give instant results – the nest and all wasps present are killed upon contact. Any returning worker wasps will pick up the insecticide when they return to the nest.
Our team will wear suitable protective clothing and will work with you to ensure that the treatment happens at a time when pets and children are safely out of the way.
Warranty: We guarantee we will eliminate the nest causing the problem (but of course there may be more nests in the area).
(For other pests check out our pest control services).
Wasp baits
If the nest cannot be located then we can use a professional wasp bait. Wasps are attracted to the wasp bait and feed on the attractive food matrix. Little do they know it contains a slow acting insecticide. They take the bait back to the nest and spread it to their nestmates, eliminating the colony. This may take a day or two but it ensures a permanent solution to your problem.
Wasp Nest Removal
Whilst wasp nest elimination is the key aim of any treatment, wasp nest removal might not always be possible. It very much depends on the location of the wasp nest.
80% of European wasp nests are actually underground – they build their nests in raised banks. Once their nest has been destroyed it won’t be re-used and as it’s out of sight there is no need to remove the nest.
For wasp nests on the outside of buildings, we will always try to remove the wasp nest after treatment. The same applies to wasp nests in roof voids, as long as it can be accessed. Sometimes the wasp nest may be in a cavity (eg. wall void) and so cannot be removed without some significant handyman work. In such circumstances, we would suggest simply leaving the nest where it is. The nest is out of sight and will not be re-used.
Bee Nest Removal
If you need bee nest removal services, the first option is to call an apiarist (bee keeper). Honey bees are beneficial and so we really don’t want to kill them, unless it is really necessary. If possible the apiarist will try and transfer the nest to a hive.
However, sometimes it is not possible and so the only solution is to kill the colony. The treatment is similar to wasp nest removal, although once the nest has been killed the honeycombs need to be removed from the building (which can be costly and messy) as they will cause significant pest issues if left in place.
Bee Swarms
If you have a bee swarm settle near you house, it is best to call a apiarist directly. These are bees looking for a new place to set up a nest and so are relatively easy for a apiarist to capture.
Wasps in Canberra
The three types of wasp that might build nests near homes around Canberra are paper wasps, potter or mud dauber wasps, and European wasps. Paper wasps and potter wasps are just two kinds of relatively harmless native wasp species – they will sting but they are not normally aggressive. Their nests are generally small, no larger than the size of a side plate, and they are considered beneficial for the environment.
But when it comes to pest wasps, European wasps are the main source of concern as they can be very aggressive and sting in numbers. They are very similar in size and appearance to the native yellow paper wasp but can be identified by their black (rather than yellow) antennae. Their nests can grow year on year to very large nests of up to 100,000 individuals.
European wasp
Native paper wasp
Potter wasp
European wasp Canberra
European wasps are native to Europe, Africa and Asia. They were first discovered in Australia around 1960 and are now found in all of the southern states (they don’t survive in tropical, warm climates). They can sting multiple times and can quickly swarm to attack when feeling threatened. Apart from safety concerns, they are considered an agricultural, environmental and urban pest.
As they have no natural predators here (other than humans), European wasp numbers are left unchecked, meaning vigilance is required by homeowners to keep numbers as low as possible.
In their native countries, European wasp nests die over the winter, with only the queen surviving. However, in Australia, European wasps can survive the mild winters. Their nests can continue to grow, creating a major problem the next year. This is another reason why their nests need to be treated immediately.
Top tips to prevent a wasp problem
An effective way to deter wasps from building nests on the exterior of your home is to have a general pest spray treatment in early spring.
During the warmer months, making your home less appealing to wasps means removing easily available food sources. European wasps are predators and scavengers, happily feeding on almost anything from fizzy drinks to rotting meat. Keeping them at bay means keeping things tidy outside.
- When eating outside, cover exposed food and remove empty plates and food scraps when finished
- Clean up drink spills
- Ensure bins have secure, tight-fitting lids
- Keep compost bins well covered
For safety, it is best to drink from a glass or use a straw rather than drinking directly from a can or bottle.
FAQ
How to get rid of a wasp nest?
To get rid of a wasp nest safely requires the necessary safety equipment and correct products. Often this means it is better and safer to get a professional to get rid of the nest.
Small Australian paper wasp nests can often be dealt with by homeowners using an appropriate wasp aerosol. Treatment should take place in the evening (when all the wasps are back in the nest) and take all necessary safety precautions.
For European wasp nests, it is strongly recommended to call a pest professional. European wasp nest can be very large and the wasps very aggressive. Sprays are generally not used against European wasp nests due to the difficultly in getting spray into the nest. Above ground nests have a protective cover with a single entrance hole and although nests in the ground have a single entrance hole, the size of the cavity is unknown. Professionals will have the equipment to blow insecticide powder into these nests.
What does a wasp nest look like?
Most of the pest wasps in Australia are paper wasps. Their nests are made of “paper” or more accurately chewed up wood and other plant material. The design of the nest helps identify the species..
Most of the Australian paper wasps have exposed nests (you can see the wasps and the larval cells), which are hung upside down by a stalk. Most are ball or plate-like in shape, but some are long and thin. The yellow brown “paper bag” wasp enclosed the nest in a “paper bag”.
European wasps build large nests. Above ground they are shrouded in a paper covering with a single entrance at the bottom. However, more commonly they are build in hollows underground and all that is visible is the entrance hole in the ground.
How to remove a wasp nest?
Once the nest has been killed, wasp nests on the outside of buildings can be easily knocked down with a broom. If the wasp nest removal requires a ladder take all necessary safety precautions, including the help of a second person.
Once the nest is dead, wasp nests in roof voids can be removed manually. Depending on its location and size, it may need to be broken into pieces. Always use gloves and a mask when handling the nest.
All nest material should be placed in a bag before placing in the bin.