Flying pests
Wasps
Wasp control
- Stay clear
- 24 hours
- Pets and children away
- 48 hours
- Some activity for
- Up to 48 hours
No entry until it's dry. Drying takes 3–4 hours or longer, so don't go back into a treated area until it's dry, even if the time on this page has passed.
Get your home ready
Before we arrive
What we do on the day
- We work out first whether it's a European wasp or a paper wasp, because the two jobs are different.
- A European wasp nest in a brick wall, window frame or roof cavity is treated with a dust, because a dust gets into the cavity where a liquid won't.
- A small paper wasp nest out in the open, under eaves or ledges, is treated with a liquid or a freeze spray.
- Wasp and hornet nests are treated on the day. Whether we can remove a nest depends on where it is.
- We don't treat while reaching from a ladder. If we can't stand square to a nest, it doesn't get done that way.
- Straight after treating, nobody goes near the treated area, us included. Wasps can be extremely aggressive in the minutes after a treatment.
After treatment
- Stay clear of area for 24 hours
- Keep pets and children away for 48 hours
- Some activity may continue for up to 48 hours
Common questions
How fast does treatment work?
Most wasps die within 24–48 hours.
When can people and pets go near the area again?
Stay clear of the area for 24 hours, and keep pets and children away for 48 hours. If you have a question about children, pets or health, call us and a technician will talk it through.
Can I remove the nest myself?
No, wasps are aggressive and pose a serious risk.
Why am I still seeing wasps after treatment?
Wasps that were out foraging when we treated keep returning to where the nest was. Some activity afterwards is normal and doesn't mean the treatment failed. If you're still seeing activity after the times on this page, let us know.
What if someone gets stung?
Clean the sting with soap and warm water, and use a cold pack to bring down the swelling and pain. Get urgent medical help in any of these cases. A child is stung more than 5 times. An adult is stung more than 10 times. Anyone is stung in the mouth or throat. There is a severe allergic reaction. If you're unwell, call 000 in an emergency, or Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for health advice.
How do I get fewer wasps around my yard?
Don't leave food, drink or pet food outside, and pick up fallen fruit. Keep lids tight on outdoor bins and keep compost bins closed. Cover food at a barbecue or picnic. Don't drink straight from a can or bottle outside, because a wasp could be inside.
Signs you've got wasps
- A small entrance hole in the ground or in a wall or ceiling. A European wasp nest is often only visible as a hole like that.
- A grey, papery nest, made from chewed wood and saliva.
- A nest like an upside-down cone or umbrella under the eaves or a branch, with open cells you can see from below. That points to a paper wasp nest.
- Wasps bothering you while you eat or drink outside. European wasps go for meat, sweet food and drinks.
- Wasps about the size of a bee, with a bright yellow body, triangle-shaped markings and folded wings when resting. That points to a European wasp.
Where wasps hide, and what draws them in
Where they nest
- About 4 in 5 European wasp nests are in the ground or close to it. Think holes in the ground, the base of trees, hedges, retaining walls, rockeries and under compost heaps.
- About 1 in 5 are inside buildings, in a roof or wall cavity, or in sheltered spots around them.
- Paper wasps nest in protected spots such as under eaves and in attics and wall voids. They have even turned up in barbecues, cars and boats.
- The nest may not be on your property. European wasps can forage up to half a kilometre from their nest.
What draws them in
- Meat, sweet food and sweet drinks.
- Scraps, fruit and rubbish. European wasps scavenge, and have been known to eat insects, fruit, human food and garbage.
- Water. Some paper wasps need plenty of moisture and are often seen at swimming pools and ponds.
What happens next
Booking the treatment
A wasp treatment goes into the nest. Whether we can remove the nest depends on where it is. Don't knock it down yourself, they defend it.
Still have a question?
Call us and we'll help. If you're still seeing activity after the times on this page, let us know.