Wasp nest

[Suddha]

There are wasps nesting in the roof of my side porch. Will they cause damage? If they’re chewing up the inside of the roof I’ll have to remove them. Otherwise I’m happy to just ignore until they die off in the autumn.

Nests are unlikely to cause a lot of damage, but might contribute to damp if left for too long. I’d be getting it removed regardless in case you get a large infestation, as you don’t want them to come hunting you in the house!

In our last house we got a nest inside a chimney, with wasps coming into the house through a fireplace in a spare bedroom. DH unwisely unloaded an entire can of inspect killer up the chimney then legged it and shut the door. Next morning we had a carpet full of dead wasps. It was like a scene from a horror film. Needless to say the exterminator was called the same day.

Oh dear. I don’t want to kill them if it’s not necessary. I’m just worried they’re causing damage?

I’d get rid. Wasps are not an endangered species but that nest might get to the size of two footballs!

I had a wasp nest in the void under the eaves outside my bedroom. I tolerated it until they chewed their way into the house through the woodwork, after which 200 of them held a party in my bedroom. One hid under my duvet and stung me in the boob when I got into bed. I got the pest controller to gas the bastards.

Wasps neats can have thousands of wasps.

Like others have said the problem is that they chew wood to make their nests and so they might chew their way to having their very own entrance into your home.

Or they might not and they'll all be dead by November.

If you don't want them there it's a quick job for pest control. Bees too btw - I know you're not asking about them but there's no law against getting rid of either type of nest - it's an infestation and it can cause harm/injury.

Last year I had a nest in the eaves, when I was lay in bed I could hear them mooching around above my head. I read too many horror stories about them falling through the ceiling and decided to get rid beforehand.