Wasp nest removal in Groningen: what to look for
Not every insect around the gutter is a wasp. Wasps are smooth, bright yellow and black, and they fly in a straight line to and from the same opening. Typical signs:
- one particular gap in the brickwork, under a roof tile or by a roller shutter box with wasps going in and out;
- rustling or crackling behind a ceiling or inside the cavity wall;
- a grey, papery ball in the shed, under the eaves or inside a bird box;
- suddenly lots of wasps indoors after a window was open only briefly.
Why wasps choose your house
In spring, a queen that has survived the winter looks for a dry, sheltered hollow: an open joint in the brickwork, a loose roof tile or a shed nobody uses much. Each new generation of workers makes the nest bigger, until it peaks at the end of summer.
Then their behaviour changes: with less brood to feed, the workers hunt for sugar themselves – lemonade on the patio, windfall fruit, the bin. If the nest is close to a bedroom window, a play area or the front door, or someone in the house is allergic, do not wait it out.
How our wasp control works
We prefer to treat wasps towards the end of the day, when the colony is home and the product also reaches the workers that forage in daylight. A professional insecticide goes into the entrance hole and spreads through the whole nest; applying it is a job for certified pest controllers only. A nest inside a cavity wall usually stays where it is: it dies off and is not reused the following year. If it hangs freely in a loft or shed, we take it away after treatment.
Wasps are only one part of our pest control in Groningen, and we will mention any other pests we spot.
Bee nest removal in Groningen
Bees are browner, hairier and far less pushy than wasps. Honey bees are not exterminated. If a swarm is hanging from a branch in your garden or a colony has moved into a hollow wall, we prefer to refer you to a beekeeper (imker) to rehome the bees. Bumblebees are left alone where possible: their nest is small, they rarely sting and the colony is gone after summer. Mason bees nesting in old mortar joints rarely sting either.
Not sure whether you have a bee nest or a wasp nest? Send us a photo or let us come and look. We only treat when it really is wasps.
Hornet nest removal in Groningen
There are two kinds of hornet to watch out for. The European hornet is large, reddish-brown and yellow, and nests in hollow trees, sheds, nest boxes and sometimes lofts. It is calmer than its size suggests but defends its nest fiercely. The Asian hornet is darker, almost black, with yellow legs. In spring it often starts with a small nest in a sheltered spot, then builds a large one high up in a tree later in the summer.
If you come across a hornet nest, keep well away and report Asian hornets on waarneming.nl. Removal is a job for a professional with protective clothing and the right equipment.
Tackling wasps yourself: dos and don'ts
Spraying the nest yourself or sealing up the hole often backfires. Wasps that lose their exit look for another way out, and that route frequently leads indoors. Pulling a nest down or hosing it is asking to be stung.
- Keep windows and doors on that side of the house shut.
- Keep children and pets away from the entrance hole.
- Do not leave sweet drinks or a fruit bowl outside.
- In winter, once the nest is empty, fit vent grilles in open joints and seal other gaps.
Found droppings or gnaw marks while clearing out the shed? Read how our rat control works.
