With warmer days and longer nights as we enjoy those lazy summer afternoons, this also brings rise to an annoying summer time pest: wasps.

But batting, whacking and swatting that annoying wasp can make things worse. When an individual social wasp is disturbed or feels threatened, they release a distress signal as a pheromone to alert their colony.This alerts the other worker wasps that their nest may be under threat. The wasps will appear as a mass to defend the nest when threatened, and to some this gathering can be mistaken for a 'swarm' similar to that produced by honey bees. It is recommended not to try get rid of a wasps yourself as it can be dangerous, as wasps will become aggressive when defending their nest.

It is always easier to prevent a problem before it happens, rather than to wait for wasps to invade your home or garden. Quite often a Queen will return to the same area where a nest was built previously, simply because it's the most suitable place, however she will construct a new nest rather than re-use an old one. If you have had problems with wasp nests in the past, check your property early in key spots to catch the nest construction early.

Check your home and garden in early spring for nests, early on they will be walnut or golf ball in size - early small nests have fewer wasps and are easier to treat quickly. Look for nests in lofts, garages, sheds, cavity walls or under eaves. Use a DIY spray specifically designed for treating wasp nests. Once sprayed, leave the nest for a minimum of 24 hours before careful removal – a wasp nest can be very fragile.