Wasp nest removal in Hoofddorp: how we tackle it
Every colony starts in spring with a single queen, who builds a small nest from chewed wood fibre. By August and September, when the workers go hunting for sugar, most people suddenly realise how many wasps are circling the house.
For wasp nest removal in Hoofddorp we first pinpoint the nest and the gap the wasps are using. Treatment is planned for early evening, when nearly the whole colony is home. A professional product goes into the entrance or straight into the nest, and by the next day things are usually much calmer. A free-hanging nest in a shed is taken down afterwards; one deep inside a cavity wall stays where it is, but it will not be used again.
Is there a wasp nest near your home?
A nest gives itself away through wasps flying the same route over and over. Look out for:
- a steady flight path to one gap, roof tile, open joint in the brickwork or air vent
- wasps turning up indoors near a downlight, a roller-shutter box or in the loft
- a grey, papery ball under the eaves, in a bird box or in the garden shed
Unsure whether it is wasps, hornets or bees? Describe colour and size when you call; that often tells us which approach fits.
What not to do yourself
Reaching for a spray can or the garden hose is tempting, but a disturbed nest defends itself fiercely. Wasps can sting repeatedly and release scents that call their nestmates to join in.
- Do not block the entrance: the wasps will look for another way out, sometimes into your home.
- Do not knock the nest down or fill it with water or expanding foam.
- Allergic to stings? Keep well away. Swelling of the face or difficulty breathing means calling 112 straight away.
Wasp nest removal with professional products is a job for a certified pest controller in protective clothing.
Bee nest removal in Hoofddorp
Honey bees are vital pollinators and are not exterminated. A buzzing cluster hanging from a branch, fence or lamppost in May or June is usually a swarm looking for a new home. Swarms are surprisingly calm and often move on within a few days. If you want it gone sooner, a beekeeper (imker) can collect and rehome it, and we can point you in the right direction.
It gets trickier when a bee nest has settled inside a cavity wall, chimney or hollow tree; we then look with you at whether a beekeeper can relocate the colony. Bumblebees in a bird box or under the shed are best left alone: they rarely sting and the colony dies off by itself at the end of summer. The small mason bees that crawl into old mortar joints in spring are harmless too.
Hornet nest removal in Hoofddorp
Two hornet species live in the Netherlands. The European hornet is the largest native wasp, reddish-brown and yellow, and likes to nest in hollow trees, nest boxes, sheds and occasionally a cavity wall. It is less of a nuisance than the common wasp but will defend its nest, and on summer evenings it is sometimes drawn to outdoor lights.
The Asian hornet is a non-native species with a dark body, an orange band on the abdomen and yellow tips to its legs. Its first nest in spring is often low down, under a carport or the eaves. In summer the colony moves to a larger nest high in a tree, which often goes unnoticed until the leaves drop in autumn. Never approach such a hornet nest yourself; we remove it with equipment for working at height. Please log any sighting on waarneming.nl.
Preventing new nests
An empty nest is never reused, but a spot that suited one queen this year often attracts another next spring. In April and May, check the roof edge, the shed and bird boxes for a starter nest about the size of a walnut; at that stage it is quickly dealt with. Open joints in a cavity wall are there for ventilation and should not be filled in. Fit insect-proof vent grilles (stootvoegroosters) after the season instead.
Clear fallen fruit and keep bin lids shut. Food left in the garden draws rodents too, so if you have spotted burrows under the paving, read about rat control. For any other pest around your home or business, our pest control in Hoofddorp is available seven days a week.
