Pest control

Wasps and bees

Removing a wasp nest. Honey bees are moved rather than destroyed.

Whether this needs a licence in Ireland

Ireland

Licence required

Registered professional user of biocidal products

Registered professional user of biocidal products, issued or supervised by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Ask for the registration number before the work starts and check it on the public register. Check the register: www.pcs.agriculture.gov.ie

Wording approved by Talqero; not yet reviewed by a solicitor

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marinewww.pcs.agriculture.gov.ieChecked 11/10/2026

Wasps and bees: what the job involves

Treating a wasp nest — in a roof space, wall cavity, bird box, hedge or ground — so the colony dies off safely. Honey bees are not destroyed: a swarm is collected by a beekeeper, and bumblebee nests are usually best left until they die off naturally in late summer.

Also asked for as: wasp nest removal · wasps nest · wasps in the roof · bee swarm · bees in the wall

How the job is usually done

Confirm by description or photograph whether it is wasps, honey bees or bumblebees.
Locate the nest entrance — often under a fascia, soffit, roof tile or in an airbrick.
Treat the entrance with an insecticide dust or spray suited to the location, in protective equipment and often from a ladder or with an extension lance.
Leave the nest for activity to stop, usually within a day or so.
Remove an accessible nest if agreed; a nest in a cavity is usually left, as wasps do not reuse it.
For honey bees, arrange a beekeeper to collect the swarm.

Wasps and bees: what is included

Usually included

Identifying the insect and the nest
Treatment of one nest
Advice on keeping wasps away next year

Usually not included — agree it separately

Removing a nest from inside walls or a roof, unless accessible
Additional nests, unless quoted
Scaffolding or roof work to reach a high nest

Materials and who supplies them

Professional insecticide dusts and sprays, bee suit and lances — the pest controller’s own

How long it takes

Usually under an hour on site; a high nest or one behind roofline boards can take longer.

When to book

Nests grow through summer and are largest in August and September; treating early in the season is easier, and a nest abandoned after the first frosts can usually just be left.

Wasps and bees: the rules in Ireland

What the official sources say, checked against them on the date shown. A summary, not legal advice — follow the link to read the rule itself.

Rodenticides, insecticides and other biocides may only be sold and used as their authorisation allows, including who may use them — products authorised for professional or trained-professional use are not for householders. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is the competent authority and keeps the register of authorised products.
Applies to: the pest controller and anybody using a biocide
EU Biocidal Products Regulation (EU) 528/2012; Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Pesticide Registration and Control Divisions · pcs.agriculture.gov.ie · Checked 9 October 2026
The trader must give the total price, or how it will be calculated, before you agree, and must supply the service with reasonable care and skill and with materials fit for purpose.
Applies to: the pest control company
Consumer Rights Act 2022; Citizens Information · citizensinformation.ie · Checked 9 October 2026

Paperwork to ask for at the end

A note of the product used and any re-entry advice

Safety

Do not block the nest entrance yourself — the wasps will find another way, sometimes into the house.
Anybody allergic to stings should stay away; an anaphylactic reaction is a medical emergency (call 112 or 999).
Never pour petrol or set fire to a nest.
Keep children and pets away from the treated entrance for the rest of the day.

Wasps and bees: before you hire

Questions to ask a tradesperson

Which product will you use, and is it safe around my pets?
Is there a guarantee if the nest is still active after a few days?
If they are bees, will you arrange for a beekeeper?

What you can do yourself

Leave active nests to a professional; a small, newly started nest in spring can be dealt with by a careful householder using a garden-centre product authorised for amateur use.

What to put in your task

What do the insects look like?
Where is the nest?
How high is the entrance?
Is anybody in the home allergic to stings?

Photos that help

The insects close up, if it is safe to take a photograph
Where they are going in and out, from a distance
The height of the entrance, showing the house

Pest control

Need wasps and bees? Describe the job.

Post it once, free. Professionals near you reply with their own price and when they could start. You choose, and pay them directly.

Post a task

Questions about wasps and bees

Does wasps and bees need a licence in Ireland?

Yes. Registered professional user of biocidal products, supervised by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Source: www.pcs.agriculture.gov.ie. Ask for the registration number and check it on the public register. Wording approved by Talqero; not yet reviewed by a solicitor.

Are bees protected in Ireland?

Honey bees are valued by beekeepers, and a swarm is collected and rehomed rather than destroyed; local beekeeping associations keep swarm collectors. Bumblebees are vital pollinators, and their nests are small and short-lived, so they are usually left alone.

Will the wasps come back to the same nest?

No. Wasps build a new nest each spring and do not reuse old ones. A treated or abandoned nest can usually be left where it is.

Can I remove a wasp nest myself?

Not a large, active one — disturbing it can bring hundreds of wasps out at once. A professional treats the entrance and leaves the colony to die off, which is far safer.

Often booked with wasps and bees

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