Can I treat a wasp nest myself in the evening?

We wouldn't. A European wasp colony defends its nest and wasps can sting more than once, and a ground nest is often bigger than it looks. Leave it to a pest business, and call 000 if someone stung has trouble breathing.

Does the shire deal with wasp nests in my yard?

No. Baw Baw Shire handles nests on council land; on private land it's the owner's job to have the nest dealt with.

Pest control Warragul: whose wasp nest, termites, buying

Three places a nest can be

In a park or reserve

Report it to Baw Baw Shire Council. The shire sends a contractor out at dusk or in the evening.

On a power pole

That one is for AusNet Services, the shire says. Don't go near it with a ladder.

On your own land

A nest on private land is the owner's responsibility to have removed or destroyed, according to Baw Baw Shire. That's where a pest business comes in.

Why the evening visit

Wasps head home as the light goes, so a nest treated at dusk has most of its colony inside. That's why the shire's contractor turns up late in the day, and why a pest business may suggest the same.

Look low first. Victoria's Department of Health says about four in five European wasp nests are in the ground, and most of the others are inside buildings. A steady line of wasps into a hole in the lawn or a gap under the weatherboards tells you where it is. Keep the kids and the dog away from that spot until it's done.

Termite control in Warragul

We haven't found a termite rating for Warragul and won't invent one. What's known is how termites give themselves away. CSIRO says subterranean termites build mud shelter tubes over concrete, brick and hard timber to stay moist, and that tapping timber and hearing a dull, hollow sound can mean they've been eating it. Damaged timber can keep a wafer thin outer skin, so it looks fine until it's pressed.

If you find any of that, stop there. CSIRO says not to disturb termites further, because several control options need them active. Treatment usually means a barrier, a baiting system or both, after a full inspection; our termite treatment page compares them. The Better Health Channel suggests checking that whoever applies the pesticide holds a Victorian pest control licence with the right authorisation for the job.

Signs worth a closer look

Thin mud tubes running up a brick pier, a slab edge or the foundations.
Skirting boards or door frames that sound hollow when tapped.
Blisters or bubbles in paintwork, which Consumer Affairs Victoria says can point to termites.
Timber that gives way under light pressure.

Buying in Warragul

A building and pest inspection is usually two reports from two different trades. Consumer Affairs Victoria suggests a qualified building inspector, surveyor or architect for the building, a professional pest inspection for termites, and your own reports rather than the seller's. Our pre-purchase page explains the timber pest side.

Where we'd start with pests in Warragul

Work out whose land the nest is on before you ring anyone. If it's yours, or you've spotted any of the termite signs above, tap it with your postcode.

Want someone to look at it?

Tell us what you've seen and your postcode, and a local pest business that handles exactly that calls you to talk it through.

What have you seen?