Stopping wasps coming back next year

Getting a nest treated deals with this year's problem. But if the conditions that attracted the wasps are still there, next spring a new queen may well choose the same spot. A bit of proofing and prevention after the nest is gone is what breaks the cycle. Here is how to make your building a less inviting place to nest.

Why wasps come back to the same places

A wasp colony dies off each autumn and the old nest is never reused. But the reason the wasps chose that soffit or cavity sheltered, dry, with an easy way in has not changed, so a new queen the following spring is drawn to the same kind of spot. Homes that get a nest one year often get one the next in a similar place, not because the wasps returned, but because the building is still ideal for nesting.

Seal the gaps

• 1Check the roofline, soffits and fascias for gaps and worn joints, and seal them.
• 2Fill cracks in render and gaps around pipework and cabling where they enter walls.
• 3Fit insect mesh to air bricks and vents that need to stay open for ventilation.
• 4Look for gaps under roof tiles and at the eaves, common entry points to attics.
• 5Do the work when no nest is active sealing a gap with a live nest behind it traps the colony.

Remove what attracts them

Wasps are drawn to food, especially sugar in late summer. Keep bin lids closed and bins clean, clear fallen fruit from under trees, cover food and drinks outdoors, and rinse recycling. None of this stops a determined queen nesting, but it reduces the wasp pressure around the building and makes it a less rewarding place to forage. For businesses, managing waste and food areas is part of keeping wasp activity down.

Timing and professional proofing

The window for proofing is when no nest is active - late autumn after the colony has died, or early spring before a queen builds. Once a nest is active in summer, the job is treatment, not proofing. If you have had repeated nests, a professional can identify the entry points and advise on proofing as part of dealing with the problem properly. Elis treats and advises on wasp problems across Ireland - see wasp nest removal, and why DIY sprays fail for why treatment is best left to professionals.

Frequently asked questions

• Do wasps come back to the same nest? No a colony dies off each autumn and the old nest is never reused. But wasps do return to the same favourable locations, so a new queen may nest in the same soffit or cavity next spring. Preventing that means proofing the spot, not the nest.
• How do I stop wasps nesting in my roof? Seal the gaps they use to get in under tiles, at worn soffit joints, cracks in render and fit insect mesh to vents and air bricks that must stay open. Do it when no nest is active, in late autumn or early spring, so you do not trap a live colony.
• When is the best time to wasp-proof a house? Late autumn, after the colony has died off, or early spring before a queen starts a new nest. During summer, when nests are active, the job is treatment rather than proofing sealing a gap with a live nest behind it traps the wasps inside.