Pest Control - Wasps
Wasps are probably the most
familiar and generally disliked of all British insects. Their
bodies bear the characteristic black and yellow bands and they have
a narrow waist in the middle of the body. The worker is 10-15mm in
length and the queen is usually 20mm in length, both have two pairs
of wings which lock together. Only females have the ability to
sting, which is near the tip of the abdomen.
Several species of wasp exist in the UK but most abundant are
the Common and German wasps. Both these species nest underground or
in the cavities of trees, walls and other parts of buildings.
Wasps can be a nuisance but are not responsible for the spread
of disease. Whilst they are generally disliked because of their
sting, this will only be used by most species when the wasp is
aroused or frightened. Wasps are known to cause serious damage to
ripened fruit and are generally a nuisance when attracted to sweet
smelling foods. The benefits from wasps are not, however, so widely
appreciated for in the spring and early summer wasp grubs are fed
on other inspect pests.
The queen emerges from the nest in the autumn and after mating
selects a suitable site for hibernation. Late in the following
spring hibernation comes to an end and the surviving queens select
a nest site. The nest is usually located in the ground or in roof
cavities and is built from wood pulp which is moulded into the
outer shell of the nest and contains many internal chambers. The
queen lays an egg into each of the chambers and these hatch into
larvae which are fed by the queen on dead insects. When fully grown
the larvae pupate and from the pupae sterile workers emerge. These
workers assist in rearing new larvae and the new queens.
Towards the end of the summer the queen lays a number of eggs
which produce male wasps and these mate with the new queens. As the
weather becomes colder in late autumn, all the wasps die except the
new queens which fly away to find sites for hibernation. The old
nests are not re-used the following year.
Control
Only wasps nests which pose a particular danger to your family
or other members of the public should be treated, otherwise they
should be left undisturbed.
It is possible for householders to treat nests providing that
care is taken. Proprietary insecticides, usually in a squeezy type
container can be purchased from garden centres or hardware
stores.
However, if you should need professional help our Pest Control
operatives can treat the nest with an approved insecticide dust. A
single treatment will normally be all that is needed, however it
will take several days for the treatment to work. Should it be
necessary to retreat a nest no further charges will be made. As old
nests are not re-used they will not be removed.
All Pesticides used in the control/treatment of insect pests are
selective and applied to ensure public safety.
Our Pest Control Technicians will also be pleased to give advice
on the safety of animals where pesticides/rodenticides have been
used.
Treatment
Dover District Council can arrange for a contractor to
remove wasps for £66.00 inc VAT.
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All visits booked will incur a call-out charge of £10.00.
This will be deducted from the cost of any treatment that is
subsequently carried out
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The charge is for 1 treatment. Please note that we usually
treat wasps nests from the outside of the property and for this
reason can only treat properties that are no more than two storeys
high at gutter level. We will only enter a loft if it is
boarded and has easy access
Make pest control arrangements by:
Contact Customer Services
Team Telephone: 01304 872428
E-mail: customerservices@dover.gov.uk
