Are Wasps Active at Night?

It seems cosy to think of wasps returning to their nests at night and tucking in their young ready for a night of rest, but the reality is that wasps do not sleep in the same way that humans do. Wasps do return to their nests and may appear inactive at night but they do not sleep in the way we might think of sleeping.

Wasps don’t fly at night and will be confined to their nest. During this time, they carry out duties such as caring for larvae and making any repairs needed to the nest.

If you approach a wasp nest at night, you might be able to hear the noise that larvae make or the worker wasps attending to nest repairs.

Often guides to DIY wasp removal will recommend acting at night. This is because most of the wasps will have returned to the nest, meaning it’s possible to remove the colony completely. Wasps are also thought to be easier to deal with at this time as they are less active.

However, this method is still extremely dangerous and we do not recommend any attempts to remove a wasp nest yourself. Always seek the advice of a professional pest controller before carrying out any DIY pest control methods and never attempt any sort of wasp control if there is a chance you could be allergic to wasp stings.

If they’re not bothering you, you can usually safely ignore a wasp nest. However, if wasps are causing any property damage and have made a nest in or close to your property such as in the loft, garage or under the eaves, or in outdoor areas such as sheds and outbuildings that you access regularly, you might find it best to have the nest removed. Whenever there is the risk of injury or safety concerns around wasps such as on commercial properties or if someone is allergic to their stings, you should also contact a pest control company to deal with the nest for you.