Wasps, bees, ants and birds

We can help you identify the pest in your home or garden and advise on how to prevent or treat infestations.

Wasps

The most common wasps are the German Wasp and Common Wasp.

Their bodies have a characteristic black and yellow band across the abdomen and they are fairly large insects approximately 30mm in length. Both species of wasps are commonly found throughout Britain and Northern Europe.

They are social insects forming colonies inside their nests.

Wasps follow a predictable seasonal cycle:

• March to May: Queens emerge from hibernation and begin building nests
• Summer: Nests grow rapidly, wasps become more active
• Late summer to autumn: Food sources decline, and wasps may become more aggressive

If you discover a wasp nest, contact our Pest Control team for safe removal.

Treatment for wasps

Our treatment for wasps starts at £72 for Ashfield residents. You can pay online for pest control appointments.

Pay online for pest control appointments

A single spray treatment is usually sufficient to control wasp nests.

The pest controller will need to wear a wasp proof suit, gloves and hood and you are advised not to go near to the nest for several hours after the treatment.

We will follow up with a second treatment visit at no extra cost, if the initial treatment is not successful.

Bees (including mining and mortar bees)

There are more than 250 types of bee in the UK, but only one Honey Bee. Important pollinators bees are endangered and we prefer not to treat them unless there is a risk to public health.

If you have a swarm of Honey Bees volunteers at the British Beekeepers Association may be able to remove them safely for you. Check their website to check the type of bee and find a local beekeeper.

Not all bees are aggressive. Many species, such as mining bees and mortar bees, are solitary and create small tunnels in soil or brickwork. They rarely sting and can usually be left alone, as they will move on naturally.

If bees appear aggressive or are stinging, our Pest Control Team can assess whether they can be safely relocated.

Treatment for bees

Check the British Beekeepers Association to find a local beekeeper to remove Honey Bee swarms.

• link: British Beekeepers Association - Honey Bee swarm removal

For other types of bees which are causing a risk to public health our treatment starts at £68 for Ashfield residents. We will only carry out a treatment if there is no alternative. You can pay online for pest control appointments.

Pay online for pest control appointments

Ants

Ants are usually more a nuisance than they are a risk to you or your pets. They do not carry diseases and do not bite.

In Britain, the black ant is commonly found in nests outdoors in soil, walls and under paving slabs. The insect lives in large communities.

Worker ants will forage widely in search of food to take back to the nest and occasionally enter houses in search of sweet foods. The workers will tend to follow well defined trails or paths to reach the food source.

Ants often nest in damp soil, creating long underground tunnels. To help prevent ant activity:

• use ant insecticide available from supermakets
• pour boiling water into visible ant holes to disrupt tunnels
• disturb and refill soil with a garden fork to prevent re-nesting

Treatment for ants

We can provide ant control treatments using a relatively new and very effective product.

Our treatment for ants starts at £100 for Ashfield residents. You can pay online for pest control appointments.

Pay online for pest control appointments

Birds (including pigeons)

Birds commonly nest in trees, bushes, roofs, and sometimes inside buildings. Most bird species are legally protected, meaning nests cannot be moved or disturbed.

However, pigeons are not protected, and our Pest Control Team can assist where they cause issues.