The damage caused to the carpets in some flats was absolutely disastrous but the end result was a resounding success!. . .the entire building is now moth free for the first time in more than five years!

What is it? Wasp? Honey Bee? Bumble Bee?
We seem to be living in an extremely anxious world where if it flies and looks remotely wasp shaped. . it must therefore sting? . . and must be killed! To make matters worse it seems most people cannot tell the difference between Wasps, Bees and Bumble Bees. So here they are:

Wasp nest in a wall?
These will either be solitary Mason Bees (Red Mason Bee – osmia rufa) or Feral Honey Bees (hymenoptera-apidae)
Mason bees are harmless pollinators and like many other similar species of bee in the UK are under serious threat. Most activity from this particular species will cease by the end of May. Best left alone.

Feral Honey Bees
Called ‘feral’ because they are usually either escaped swarms or unmanaged colonies. This species is usually most active once temperatures exceed 7 – 10C degrees and will quite commonly habitat wall cavities in buildings after swarming (June/July) Treating any honey bee colony is a serious business and should only be considered as a last resort. Inappropriate treatments or procedures can lead to huge fines under the Food and Environmental Protection Act 1985 (FEPA). Feral honey bee activity in a wall cavity or soffit in early spring will usually be far more extreme than any full blown wasp nest during the height of summer so if activity is minimal it usually indicates the species is more likely to be Mason Bees.

Wasp activity in a lawn?
Many calls I receive about wasps in early spring relate to so called ‘wasp’ activity in lawns. These are invariably nothing more than Mining Bees of which there are in excess of 60 different species in the UK. Most of them resemble bumble bees although usually much smaller in size and create small tunnels in areas of lawn growing in sand rich soil. The most common species is the ‘Tawny’ Mining Bee – andrena fulva which is quite harmless and disappears by the end of May.

Feral pigeon’s are really filthy creatures so as a matter of interest I thought I would give you an insight of what to expect when faced with a roof void that has suffered a long term infestation of unchecked feral pigeons. Here are some of the findings of what is now quite a common situation:-

• The birds had been using the roof for at least twelve years (nearer fifteen if the truth were known)
• Forty plus birds were in residence at any one time.
• Total number of skeletal carcases found at the time of clearance. . twelve!
• Total number of un-hatched eggs. . .twenty eight!
• Number of current nests. . .eleven!
• Average number of inches of guano between joists (depth). . . four!
• Weight of bird waste (guano/nests etc) removed on the day. . . quarter of a ton!
• Really nasty pathogens and diseases found in this kind of environment. . .  at least fifteen!
• Man hours to clear including a bird cull and proof repairs.(60 sq ft) . . . nineteen!
• Mealworm beetle larvae present. . about fifteen . . . thousand! !

A feral pigeon roost in a roof void is a lethal place to go... without the right personal protective equipment (PPE) that is! Pathogens and diseases are rife here!

So to be on the safe side always store dry pet food in airtight containers (stores in smells and keeps food fresh) and never leave uneaten food out in bowls for pets to pick at.

Remember! If rodents can’t smell it. . .they wont challenge the building to get to it!

2. Never attempt to treat a wasp nest without adequate personal protection.

3. Never attempt to treat a wasp nest unless you are 100% sure your chosen means of attack treatment is capable of dealing with the size of nest in question.

4. Never attempt treating wasp nests from inside a loft or roof space without completing a suitable risk assessment. Roof voids or lofts can present all sorts of additional hazards. Falling through the ceiling being just one of them!

5. Never attempt treating a wasp nest from a ladder without being suitably equipped and prepared. Always seek assistance from a friend or neighbour and ensure they too are suitably protected.

6. Never attempt to treat a wasp nest during the hours of daylight

7. Never attempt to treat a wasp problem of any sort if it is likely to put others in danger

8. Never attempt a wasp treatment if you are susceptible to severe reaction to wasp stings or anaphylactic shock.

9. Never, ever block off the entrance to a wasp nest, especially in the home as this could have disastrous if not fatal results.

10. Never compromise safety. If in doubt call a professional with all the training, expertise and safety procedures in place. Get the job done well but above all get the job done safely.