Advice
How to Tell If You Have a Wasp Nest at Your Property
A wasp nest is often hidden in a loft, wall or shed, so knowing the early signs helps you act calmly before the colony grows.
Read the guide →£90
Wasp nest treatment, fixed price
We confirm the price with you before any work starts. It can depend on where the nest is and how easy it is to reach. Call 01392 590 140 or send an enquiry.
Please do not poke the nest, block the hole or try a spray from a ladder. Wasps defend the nest hard and a blocked entrance can send them into your rooms. Keep children and pets indoors, away from the area, and give us a call. We will talk through what you can see and book a visit.
Nests in older Sidmouth buildings
Sidmouth has plenty of older houses, with deep eaves, loft spaces, chimneys and little gaps where a queen can slip in during spring. A nest in a loft or wall void can run for months before anyone notices, until wasps start appearing at a bedroom window or you hear a dry scratching in the ceiling. Sidmouth's hilly layout also means some roofs are steep and awkward to reach, which is worth mentioning when you call.
Look for a steady line of wasps flying to and from one spot, a papery grey patch showing through a gap, or a brown stain spreading on a ceiling. If you see any of these, note where the wasps are going from a safe distance and tell us. That helps the technician arrive knowing what to expect. Do not go into the loft to look for it yourself; a disturbed nest can empty out very quickly and with little warning.
Guest houses, care homes and busy summers
The seafront, guest accommodation and retirement homes in Sidmouth mean there are often people sitting outside or opening windows through the summer. Wasps near a dining area, a terrace or a care home entrance are a real nuisance and can sting someone who cannot easily move away. Nests near public doors should be dealt with promptly. In a busy town it only takes one sting at the wrong moment to spoil a visitor's stay, or a resident's afternoon.
We can treat nests at commercial premises as well as private homes, and we keep the visit tidy and discreet. Late in the season wasps get more irritable and hunt for sugary food and drinks, so keeping bins shut and clearing spilled drinks outside helps while you wait for us to arrive. Outdoor tables and open windows are the places most likely to cause trouble, so cover food and drink where you can.
What happens when we treat a nest
The technician finds the nest and treats it with a professional product, so the colony dies back over the following days. You may still see a few wasps coming and going for a short while; that is normal. We can advise on clearing the old nest and on closing the gap, so a new queen is less likely to move in next spring. Beyond Sidmouth we also cover Sidford and Sidbury, across the EX10 area.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to leave a wasp nest in my Sidmouth loft until winter?
Not really. The nest keeps growing through summer and wasps may find their way into your rooms. Most colonies die off in winter and never reuse the nest, but you would face a long wait with a lot of stinging insects overhead. It is better to have it treated.
How do I know it is wasps and not honey bees?
Wasps are slim, bright yellow and black with a smooth body, and they build papery grey nests. Honey bees are rounder, furrier and duller. If you are unsure, describe what you see when you call and we will help work out which it is before anything is treated.
Do I need to be at home when you treat the nest?
Not always. If the nest is outside or in a loft we can reach, we often just need access. Tell us when you book. Keep children and pets away from the area during the visit, and follow the technician's advice afterwards. Just let us know when you call.