Wasps are a huge problem during the summer months, and can be many homeowners’ idea of a worst nightmare. There are few things that can be as annoying and troublesome as a wasp sting, and if you have young children living with you wasps will be a constant worry. It is estimated that almost half of all Britons (43 per cent) have had the misfortune of finding a wasps’ nest in their own home. One of the most common areas to find a nest is within a loft or attic area. Another highly common place to find a nest is in the garden shed, whereas wall cavities and garages also make ideal hidey holes for the yellow and black striped pests. Tom Stringer, head of the AA’s home emergency response service, explains:

“Wasps nests are at best a nuisance, and at worst dangerous to those who live close by. Finding a nest now before its well-established means you can get rid of it before it gets bigger and more problematic. They’re known to build nests in loft spaces, which a lot of people may not check if their loft is unconverted or isn’t used very often. Like most insects, they’ll squeeze through tiny gaps – so getting up there and checking it’s well sealed could stop wasps getting in and setting up home.”

It is always worth keeping a ready supply of quality pest control products within your home so that you can act at the first sight of a problem. Remember that wasps are attracted to sweet food and drink. Keep sugary foods inside if possible, and don’t leave any half full soft drink cans outside in the garden. If you are having a barbeque, be sure to cover the food so that any passing insects can’t attack it. It is worth investing in a rubbish bin which has a tight sealed lid so that wasps cannot congregate inside the bin.

If you do find signs of a nest it is important to use wasp killer products as soon as possible. Many insects can easily squeeze through tiny gaps in doors and walls. Carrying out regular maintenance on your house to stop the spread of cracks in walls or boards should help reduce the chance of nests being built. It is often difficult to spot where wasps may be getting into your house. In such cases, look for any spots of daylight coming through the roof or walls. Wasp nest spray should help kill wasps inside the house, but if the nest gets too big it may be wise to call in the services of a professional to help with the job.

Some people think that you can put off wasps from building nests in your home by hanging up a screwed ball of paper in the area that you think the wasps are coming from. This is because the wasps may mistake it for another nest and then look elsewhere before building their own brand new one in your home.