When Les Stagg noticed a handful of hornets buzzing around the outside of his home, he didn’t think too much of it. At first, he assumed they were just passing through or perhaps beginning to build a small nest somewhere nearby. But what began as a casual observation while he was washing his car soon turned into a shocking discovery that left him stunned and uneasy.
Les, who lives in the UK, later realized the insects weren’t wasps at all, but hornets – and not just a few of them. After spotting what appeared to be the beginnings of a nest on his roof, he decided it was best not to take chances. He called pest control to come and investigate. That decision may have saved him from a far bigger problem than he could have imagined.
According to Liverpool ECHO, when the pest control specialist arrived, she geared up and climbed into Les’s loft to take a closer look. Within moments, she came back down and called him over, clearly astonished by what she had seen.
“She told me I might want to have a look myself,” Les recalled. “I thought maybe it was a medium-sized nest or something manageable, but then she told me it was the biggest she’s ever seen.”
The sheer scale of the nest shocked even the seasoned pest control expert. Les admitted that he had been completely unaware of just how serious the situation had become. “I was telling her that I only saw the hornets flying around the house on Sunday, so I thought it might be a new, small nest. But it turned out to be something far worse.”
The pest controller confirmed that due to the unusually warm weather, hornet season has gone “crazy” this year, with infestations expected to last well into November and even December. Normally, companies like Independent Pest Control receive calls about hornets only once a week. Now, they’re fielding reports every single day.
For Les, the experience was deeply unsettling. “I really hate wasps and hornets,” he said. “I only ever saw about six or seven outside the roof, but they were always there. They had even started to come in through the bathroom window. It was lucky I noticed them when I did, because we only go into the attic three or four times a year, usually to grab the Christmas decorations. They could have been up there much longer without us realizing.”
The pest control specialist, wearing full protective gear, worked carefully to remove the nest. Even with the suit, the hornets were aggressive. At one point, one of the insects managed to sting her through the protective clothing, leaving her with a painful mark on her shoulder.
“She was amazing,” Les said gratefully. “She sprayed the nest, waited an hour, and then took it out. The hornets have now completely vanished, but she told me I should get my roof inspected soon, just in case they find another way in.”
When asked about the nest itself, Les admitted he was completely floored by the size. “I couldn’t believe it when I saw it. We’ve had hornets and nests before, but never anything even close to this. It was unbelievable.”
For now, Les is relieved that the ordeal is over, though the memory of the massive nest will likely stay with him. His story serves as a reminder that what may seem like a minor nuisance can quickly escalate into a serious infestation – and that sometimes, it pays to trust your instincts and call in the professionals before it’s too late.
