Paper Wasp

Where it lives

Sheltered outdoor structures: shutter boxes, pergolas, eaves, balcony soffits, garden sheds, disused pipes, satellite dishes and rubble wall cavities.

Signs

• A grey papery nest of open hexagonal cells, without an outer shell
• Wasps repeatedly entering the same gap in a shutter box or eaves
• Increasing wasp activity around a single point of the façade
• Aggressive behaviour when a shutter is opened or a window is closed

Risks

• Painful stings, and repeated stings from a defended nest
• Risk of anaphylaxis in sensitised people
• Nests in shutter boxes bring wasps directly into bedrooms
• Particular danger to children and to anyone working at height near a nest

Prevention

• Inspect shutter boxes, pergolas and eaves in April and May when nests are small
• Seal gaps into shutter housings and roof voids over winter
• Keep bins closed and clear fallen fruit in late summer
• Do not swat or spray a nest yourself, which triggers mass defence
• Never block a nest entrance while wasps are inside

Treatment

We treat and remove nests wearing full protective equipment, usually in the evening when the colony is present. A licensed insecticidal dust or foam is applied to the nest and entry point, and the nest is physically removed once activity ceases. Entry gaps are then proofed to stop rebuilding the following season. Most jobs are completed in a single visit.