Where Croydon's Wasps Build Their Nests
Eaves and loft voids around Purley and Selsdon
The 1930s semis around Purley and Selsdon have deep eaves and loft spaces that stay dry and undisturbed for most of the year, which is exactly what a queen wasp looks for in spring. By late summer a nest built into a loft void here can be the size of a football, and the first anyone notices is often the noise rather than the wasps themselves.
Balconies and roof voids in the town centre's towers
Converted office towers in the town centre offer wasps a different kind of shelter — balcony voids, old plant-room vents and gaps in roof coverings that were never sealed after conversion work. A nest in a shared roof void can affect more than one flat below it, so it's worth reporting even if the activity seems to be coming from a neighbour's balcony rather than your own.
Signs to Look For
- A grey, papery nest the size of a football or larger, usually by late summer
- Wasps repeatedly entering and leaving one spot — a loft vent, eave or air brick
- A low buzzing or rustling sound from inside a wall, loft or shed
- More wasps than usual around bins, fruit trees or open windows
Dealing With a Croydon Wasp Nest
Leave the nest alone once you've spotted it — treatment is quicker and safer while it's still undisturbed.
