Wasp: the field card
Striped yellow and black, it nests in walls, roofs and the ground.
Card 08
Vespula vulgaris, Vespula germanica
In short
Common and German wasps (Vespula vulgaris, Vespula germanica) measure 12 to 17 mm and live in annual colonies that reach several thousand individuals by late summer. They nest in roofs, cavity walls and old burrows, and become persistent around sweet food in August and September. A nest close to a doorway should be destroyed by an equipped professional.
The nest is made of chewed wood pulp that looks like grey paper. It is often hidden: in a roller-shutter box, under roof tiles, inside a wall or an old burrow. You spot it by the steady traffic of workers through a single small opening.
Don't confuse it with the paper wasp (Polistes), slimmer, which builds a small open comb under a ledge and is far less aggressive. Correct identification avoids pointless call-outs.
Tell-tale signs of wasps
- 1Steady traffic of wasps through a crack in a façade, roof or shutter box.
- 2A hole in the lawn with wasps flying in and out: an underground nest.
- 3Scratching or buzzing inside a wall or ceiling.
- 4Lots of wasps indoors, drawn in by an opening near the nest.
Risk index
DeratiseurPRO rating, from 1 (low) to 5 (high).
- Health
- 3/5
- Damage
- 1/5
- Spread
- 2/5
The risks
- Repeated stings: unlike bees, wasps don't lose their sting.
- Possible severe allergic reaction, sometimes after a single sting.
- A sting in the mouth or throat from drinking a sweet drink outdoors.
- Nests up high or inside walls are risky to tackle without equipment.
How we treat it
- 01
Detect
Identification of the species and nest, locating entrances and securing the surroundings.
- 02
Neutralise
Authorised insecticide injected straight into the entrance or the nest, wearing protective gear.
- 03
Lock
Advice on closing the opening once the nest is inactive, without trapping live workers.
- 04
Monitor
Check that activity has stopped, photo report and written guarantee.
Prevention checklist
Simple habits that lower the risk of the intruder coming back.
- In spring, check shutter boxes, roof spaces and sheds where queens settle.
- Cover drinks and food outdoors in late summer.
- Keep bins and compost bins closed.
- Never block an active entrance: the wasps would look for another way out, sometimes indoors.
Frequently asked questions
Will the nest be used again next year?
No. The colony dies in autumn and the nest is not reoccupied. A new queen may, however, build a new nest in the same place if the opening stays accessible.
Can I wait until winter?
If the nest is away from where people pass and nobody is allergic, yes. If it is near a door, a terrace or a bedroom, it is better to have it destroyed quickly.
What should I do if I'm stung?
Take off rings and bracelets, wash with soap and water and apply something cold. If the face or throat swells, or if you feel faint or struggle to breathe, call 112 (or 15 in France).
Got wasps at home?
Price shown before you book, 2-hour time slot, same-day photo report and written guarantee.