Wasp nest removal in Sydney

A wasp nest near the back door, clothesline or kids' play area is a real safety issue, especially for anyone allergic to stings. Bees are different: they're vital pollinators, and swarms can often be collected and rehomed instead of destroyed.

Wasp or bee? Know what you're dealing with

• European wasps. Bright yellow and black, about the size of a honey bee but with a smooth, shiny body. They're an introduced pest, usually nest underground or inside wall cavities, and can sting repeatedly. They're attracted to meat, sweet drinks and pet food.
• Paper wasps. Long, thin wasps with dangling legs, brown-orange with yellow markings. They build open, umbrella-shaped grey paper nests under eaves, pergolas, fences and in shrubs.
• Honey bees. Furry, golden-brown and generally not aggressive unless their hive is disturbed. In spring, colonies split and swarms of thousands of bees may hang in a cluster on a branch or fence for a few hours or days.
• Native bees. Many are small and stingless or solitary, and are best left alone.

Staying safe

• Don't try to knock down, burn, block or spray a nest yourself, particularly a European wasp nest in a wall or the ground.
• Keep kids and pets away from the nest area, and cover sweet drinks outdoors.
• If someone has trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or collapses after a sting, call 000 immediately and use their adrenaline autoinjector if they have one.

What wasp and bee removal usually involves

1. Identification of the insect and where the nest actually is, which isn't always where you see them flying.
2. Wasp nest treatment with appropriate protective gear, usually treating the nest entrance so returning wasps are controlled, then removing the nest when safe.
3. Bee swarms: a professional or local beekeeper may be able to collect a fresh swarm. Established hives inside walls are harder and may need a specialist to remove the comb so it doesn't attract pests or leak honey.

When wasps and bees are worst in Sydney

Bee swarming season is spring, when colonies multiply. Wasp nests start small in spring and grow through summer, so European wasp numbers and nest sizes often peak in late summer and autumn. Treating a nest early, while it's small, is easier and safer.

Frequently asked questions