Maidenhead & Windsor

As one of summer's least welcome visitors returns, Maidenhead Royal Borough has advised householders to take care in tackling the problem.

Wasps are on the rise as the eggs, which the queens started laying in May, hatch into the unpopular black and yellow striped insects.

Gillian Taylor, Maidenhead environmental health manager, said: "As expected, over the last few days we have seen a considerable rise in the number of wasps' nests reported to us.

"The queen wasps come out of hibernation about May, and start their nest by laying a few eggs. At this stage the nest is only the size of a golf ball, and is attached to places such as the branch of a hedge, the ceiling of a porch or a rafter in the loft.

"As the eggs hatch into wasps they forage for food and begin to enlarge the nest. By late summer the nest may contain 5,000 wasps and be the size of a football."

Wasps are beneficial insects as they attack and kill many small insects around the garden. But they are also a nuisance and can inflict a painful sting if provoked. In late summer and autumn they often come into the kitchen looking for sweet sugary foods.

Gillian said: "Tackling a nest can be dangerous work if you are not fully protected and experienced. There are many aerosol cans of insecticide available from supermarkets if you decide to tackle the job yourself.

"However the council advises it is best left to a professional pest controller who has heavy-duty protective clothing, specialised equipment and the most effective insecticides."

The Maidenhead council provides a domestic service for residents using a professional pest control contractor at a subsidised rate, with further discounts for those in receipt of benefit.

To book an appointment for this or any other Maidenhead pest problem please contact SDK (Kilsyth) Ltd on 0845 130 8621.

Appointments for treatment can normally be offered on a next-day basis.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead