The first thing you have to understand is that wasps do not re-use old nests. If a queen wasp returns and finds her old nest, she will not move back into it. This means that removing an old, empty nest will not deter them at all. If they are going to reinfest your garden then they will be building a brand new nest from scratch.

Do wasps return to old nesting grounds?

What you also have to understand, however, is that wasps do frequently return to the same physical place. The reason for this is simple. A fascinating fact about wasps is that these insects often return because they have found a favourable living environment. Basically, the previous nest was built in an optimal space, which is why they find their way back.

This usually happens due to the abundance of resources in the area. This most often includes things like food and water sources. For example, there may be fruit trees in the area. There may also be open bins in the area, or things like pet and bird food. Certain flowers will also attract them. Something else that attracts wasps are pheromones. They pick on the fact that wasps were previously in the area, and this draws them to the place in question.

There are several things you can do about this

If you have a wasp nest in your property, there are steps you can take to reduce the chances of wasps returning to the area. First of all, you should hire a professional pest control expert to remove the nest (they will be able to assess whether or not it’s empty). In the process of removing the nest they will usually apply a wasp treatment. Most reputable pest control companies can do this for you. It is much safer, plus their treatments will be stronger than anything you can buy over the counter. It’s probably better to go to an experienced wasp control specialist like Diamond.

Something else you can do is make the area inhospitable to wasps. Start by removing all sources of water and food. You can also modify the area, so that the wasps cannot easily just build their nest. For instance, wasps love building their nests in sheltered corners. Cover these corners up and this may deter the wasps. Just be aware that there are some things you should never do to a wasp nest if you want to remain safe.

You can also make use of natural wasp repellents: For example, planting some herbs such as mint and thyme are said to repel wasps. Hopefully these tips on wasp prevention will allow you to enjoy your garden again, even if wasps were a problem the previous year.