Wasp nests are a common yet dangerous occurrence in the many nooks and crannies of urban jungles and rural areas alike. While wasps are defensive insects and do not go out of their way to sting humans, their presence still strikes fear into the hearts of many.
To avoid risking a painful sting, removing wasp nests as soon as they are encountered is best. However, deciding between doing it yourself or engaging in a professional service can take time, as wasp nests vary in size and number. Read on to find out some useful evaluation methods to help you make your decisions regarding getting rid of wasp nests.
Is the wasp nest abandoned?
If a wasp nest is abandoned, you can likely remove it yourself with a spatula and a bag to collect the nest fragments, saving you time and money. As wasps never reuse nests, an abandoned one is usually safe to remove alone.
Take some time to observe the wasp nest. Some signs to look out that tell you if a wasp nest is occupied or not are:
- Wasps flying around the vicinity of the nest.
- Discolouration or crumbling of the nest that gives away the lack of maintenance by wasps.
- Wasps entering and exiting in the daytime.
While these are some signs that a wasp nest has been abandoned, you should always be mindful of the very possible risk of an inaccurate evaluation – a false positive can result in painful stings! If you are unsure, it is always better to seek help from a pest control specialist.
Is the wasp nest safely accessible?
Wasp nests can be found almost anywhere a wasp deems suitable to start one. From high ceilings to the underside of plant pots, the location of a wasp nest can determine whether or not you need professional help.
Not only does a wasp nest have to be accessible, but occupied wasp nests are still very dangerous and carry painful consequences in the event of a failed do-it-yourself (DIY) attempt at removing the nest.
Abandoned nests at a safe level can be removed without significant risk. However, as mentioned above, it can be challenging to ascertain whether or not a nest is truly abandoned. For that, we recommend always engaging professional pest control services for nests that you can’t be sure of!
What species of wasps occupy the nest?
While the silhouette of a wasp can put a sense of urgency into people and make them want a removal as soon as possible, common wasps in Singapore, such as hornets and paper wasps, are generally not aggressive unless provoked. These insects are known for their painful stings; even worse, some may have severe allergic reactions to their venom. As such, it’s important to exercise caution when dealing with hornets and paper wasps.
Although a quick online search can help you differentiate between harmful and harmless wasps, this is by no means an effective method of justifying DIY attempts at wasp nest removal. Given their small size and highly similar colour patterns, it can be almost too easy to misidentify wasps.
Conclusion
Although not every wasp nest needs professional intervention, evaluating and attempting DIY removal presents many risks for human error. Given the potential for wasps to cause serious harm with their venomous stings, opting for professional removal is very often the only solution to a wasp nest problem. Alongside effective and safe removal, pest control services also provide solutions superior to DIY methods, giving you peace of mind for the long term.
Consider engaging the services of PestClinic, a 30-year veteran in the pest removal industry. Offering a range of residential, commercial and industrial pest control services, PestClinic is well-versed in removing all sorts of invasive pests, including dangerous wasps and their nests, as well as offering comprehensive advice on how to prevent them from building in and around your home.