Wasp & Hornet Nest Removal in Aude, Hérault & Pyrénées-Orientales
Who doesn't love summer? Here in the south of France, our summers are long and hot. Great for lazy days on the beach, hikes in the mountains, or a leisurely lunch at your favourite restaurant.
Unfortunately, summer also means wasps.
Wasps and hornets are an important part of the environment. But when they build in roof spaces, walls, shutters, outbuildings, gardens or other areas close to people, they can quickly become a serious problem.
Gecko Pest provides professional wasp and hornet nest treatment throughout Aude, Hérault and Pyrénées-Orientales. We identify where the insects are entering, locate the nest where possible, and apply a targeted treatment designed to eliminate the colony.
Most accessible nests are treated from €125, with prices starting from €150 outside our core service area. Standard pricing applies to nests accessible from the ground or at heights of up to approximately 3 metres.
If you’re not sure whether you have ordinary wasps, European hornets or Asian hornets, send us a clear photo by WhatsApp and we can often help identify them before attending.
Where Do Wasps & Hornets Build Their Nests?
Wasps and hornets can build nests in a wide range of locations, and the nest itself is often completely hidden from view. You may only notice a steady stream of insects entering and leaving through a small opening.
Around homes and businesses, nests are commonly found:
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In roofs and attics, including beneath roof tiles, around eaves and inside roof voids.
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Inside wall cavities, with wasps entering through gaps around masonry, vents, pipes or other openings.
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Underground, particularly in abandoned rodent burrows, banks, lawns and garden beds.
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In trees and hedges, where some species construct enclosed nests among branches or dense vegetation.
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In sheds and outbuildings, especially in quiet roof spaces and other undisturbed areas.
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Around shutters, balconies and terraces, where paper wasps may build small exposed comb nests in sheltered locations.
The location of a nest affects how it needs to be treated. A visible nest hanging in a shed, for example, presents a very different problem from a colony several metres inside a roof or wall cavity.
Don't Block an Active Nest Entrance
If wasps are disappearing into a hole in your wall, roof or eaves, don't seal the opening while the colony is still active. Wasps trapped inside may search for another way out, which can sometimes bring them into the living areas of the building.
The colony should be dealt with first. Once activity has stopped, the entry point can be sealed where appropriate.
An active wasp nest treated by Gecko Pest. Wasps repeatedly using the same entrance usually indicates an established nest inside the structure.
How We Treat Wasp & Hornet Nests
The best way to treat a wasp or hornet nest depends on where it is located and how the insects are entering it. Before treatment, we identify the nest or active entrance and determine the safest and most effective way to reach the colony.
For accessible nests, we can treat the nest directly. Where the colony is hidden inside a roof, wall cavity or other void, treatment can usually be applied through the entrance being used by the wasps.
You may continue to see some activity for a short time after treatment. Wasps that were away from the nest can return later and come into contact with the treated area. Activity should then decline as the treatment takes effect.
Physical removal of the nest is not normally necessary, particularly when it is inaccessible inside a wall or roof void. Once the colony has been eliminated, the old nest will not be reused by another wasp colony.
Wasp & Hornet Nest Treatment Prices
Professional wasp and hornet nest treatment starts from €125 for nests that can be safely accessed and treated from ground level or with normal equipment.
Nests that are particularly high, difficult to access or require additional equipment may cost more. We will discuss this with you before carrying out the treatment.
If you can safely take a photo or video of the nest location from a distance, send it to us by WhatsApp. This can often help us assess the access requirements before we arrive.
30-Day Wasp Nest Guarantee
Our wasp and hornet nest treatments include a 30-day guarantee on the treated nest.
If activity from the same nest returns within 30 days of treatment, contact us and we will return to reassess and retreat it at no additional charge.
The guarantee applies to the nest we treated, rather than new nests that may subsequently appear elsewhere on the property.
Wasp & Hornet Control FAQs
How quickly will a wasp nest die after treatment?
You will often see a significant reduction in activity within a few hours, but it can take longer for the nest to become completely inactive. Wasps that were away from the nest at the time of treatment may continue to return for a while afterwards.
Avoid approaching or blocking the nest entrance during this period.
Do I need to leave my home during wasp treatment?
Usually not. Most wasp nest treatments are highly targeted and do not require everyone to leave the property.
We will explain any precautions you need to take before treatment, particularly if the nest is inside or close to a living area.
Do you remove the wasp nest?
Usually, no. Once the colony has been eliminated, removing an inaccessible nest from inside a roof or wall cavity is generally unnecessary.
If a nest is easily accessible, removal may sometimes be possible, but eliminating the active colony is the important part of the treatment.
Will wasps use the old nest again?
No. Wasps do not normally reuse an old nest the following year. New queens establish new colonies and build new nests.
However, a property that provides good nesting sites may attract another colony in the future, sometimes very close to the location of an old nest.
Should I block the hole the wasps are using?
Not while the nest is active. If you seal the entrance to an occupied nest, the wasps may search for another way out. Where the nest is inside a wall or roof, that can potentially bring them into the building.
Wait until the colony has been successfully treated and activity has stopped before sealing an entry point.
Can I treat a wasp nest myself?
Small nests may appear straightforward to deal with, but approaching an active colony can trigger defensive behaviour and multiple stings. This becomes considerably more dangerous when the nest is hidden, elevated or difficult to escape from quickly.
Never attempt to treat a nest if doing so requires climbing onto a roof or putting yourself in an unsafe position.
What if the nest is high up?
We can treat many elevated nests, but the price and feasibility depend on the height, access and location.
If possible, send us a photograph showing both the nest or entrance and the surrounding building or tree. This gives us a much better idea of the access required than a close-up of the nest alone.
Do you treat Asian hornet nests?
Asian hornets (Vespa velutina) require particular care because nests can become very large and are frequently located high in trees or other difficult-to-access locations.
If you think you have found an Asian hornet nest, send us photographs of the insects and nest from a safe distance. We can help identify what you have and advise on the appropriate next step.
Do you treat bees?
We do not routinely kill bees simply because they are nesting on a property. Honeybee swarms can often be collected by a beekeeper, while bumblebees, carpenter bees and many solitary bees can normally be left alone.
Send us a photograph if you're unsure whether you have bees, wasps or hornets.
How much does wasp nest treatment cost?
Professional wasp and hornet nest treatment starts from €125. Nests that are particularly high, difficult to reach or require additional equipment may cost more.
Our treatments include a 30-day guarantee on the treated nest. If activity from the same nest returns within 30 days, we will return to reassess and retreat it at no additional charge.