Wasps: What You Should Know

Need to get rid of wasps? Read on to learn the answers to all of your important questions. Need help? Call our professionals today to get started.

What Does A Wasp Look Like?

Wasps are interesting insects whose behavior and BLANK are varied. Wasps can be solitary while others are social. Wasps are known for their vicious sting, but some wasp species don’t sting at all. 

Most wasp species are between 1/2 and 1 and 1/2 inches long, though most are about one inch in length. They vary in color from orange to dark red to reddish-brown. Others have varying stripes of red and yellow.

Where Do Wasps Make Their Nests?

If you have identified wasps in or near your home, you may even be seeing wasps from more than one colony. Wasps like to build their nests where they can be safe from detection and agitation: underneath window sills, on trees and bushes, on the ground hidden by plants and underneath siding or overhangs.

Wasp Stings And Aggression

Generally, when people think of wasps, they often think about the wasp’s vicious sting. Wasps become defensive when their nest is disturbed. When they feel threatened, wasps, like bees, release a pheromone that marks their target while simultaneously alerting the rest of their colony to attack. Swatting or squashing wasps can actually make your wasp problem worse as both these actions will cause the wasp to release a chemical pheromone which attracts and agitates other wasps in the area. If you find a wasp or a wasp nest, it is best to walk away, make sure other adults, children and pets do not go near the area, and call a pest control professional.

What Do I Do If I Find A Wasp In My Home?

Your best line of defense from keeping wasps from entering your home is to prevent them from nesting around or near your home. If you are finding solitary wasps in your home this might indicate that you have a nest inside your home, or it may indicate that they have built a nest near an area of your home that is not properly sealed. Check your home for their point of entry so that it may be sealed off. Check your home for any unsealed vents, torn window screens, and any cracks around windows and door frames.

How Can I Prevent Wasps From Nesting Around My Home?

Wasps are attracted to protein foods in spring and early summer. Make sure there is no unattended food source around your home such as pet food, picnic scraps, open garbage containers or uncovered compost piles. By late summer and into early fall, wasps begin feeding on sweet food and their behavior becomes more aggressive. Check around your home for things like, open cans of soda, fruit juice, rotting fruit under fruit trees and make sure your garbage and compost bins are always covered.

When Should I Call Pest Control for Wasp?

If you’re currently worried about wasps in or near your home, don’t wait for a full-blown infestation to occur before you take action to protect your home! It is always easier to treat a pest problem when you first notice it so don’t hesitate to call immediately.

Call Pest Control Experts today to get a free quote and to schedule your home pest inspection as soon as possible!