Wasp and Ant Control in Dundee, Aberdeen, Perth & Stirling

Wasps and ants are the two pests we receive the most calls about during the summer months across Dundee, Aberdeen, Perth, and Stirling. They are very different problems requiring very different approaches, but both can be dealt with effectively when the right treatment is applied at the right time.

Wasp control: timing is everything

Wasp nests start small in spring, built by a single queen emerging from hibernation. By July and August, a mature nest can contain several thousand workers and poses a genuine risk to anyone nearby. The earlier a nest is treated, the smaller and less aggressive the colony will be.

Common nest locations include loft spaces, wall cavities, under roof eaves, in garden sheds, and underground in old rodent burrows. If you notice wasps repeatedly entering and leaving a specific point, that is almost certainly the nest entrance.

Professional treatment involves applying a residual insecticide dust or spray directly into the nest entrance. Returning workers carry the treatment through the colony. The nest is typically inactive within hours. Treated nests are never re-used, though new queens may build fresh nests in the same area the following year.

Ant control: treating the colony, not just the trail

The black garden ant (Lasius niger) is the species most commonly found in Scottish homes and gardens. Ants become active from late spring onwards, foraging for food and water. They are particularly attracted to sweet foods and can find their way into kitchens through the smallest of gaps.

The key to effective ant control is treating the colony, not just the visible trail. Spraying ants on the surface kills the foragers but leaves the queen and the rest of the colony intact. The colony simply sends out new foragers.

Professional ant treatment uses a gel bait that foragers carry back to the colony, where it is shared with the queen and other workers. This approach eliminates the colony at source rather than just suppressing surface activity.

Flying ant day

Once a year, typically on a warm, humid day in July or August, ant colonies release winged males and new queens in a mass mating flight. This is a natural event and does not indicate an infestation. The flying ants disperse within a day or two and do not need to be treated. If you have a persistent ant problem indoors before or after flying ant day, that is worth addressing with a professional treatment.