Wasps are one of the most frightening pests to find in or around any Philadelphia home or business. The treatment of wasps must be very meticulous, because it is very easy to unintentionally lead wasps directly into your home, putting yourself and others at risk of being stung. You should always be careful dealing with stinging venomous insects. It is always safer to engage a professional with an excellent record to take care of your problem. Hiring a professional wasp control provider is a surefire way to prevent injuries and prevent wasps from rebuilding.
ATTRACTING WASPS
The favorite places for wasps to build their nests are in house soffits and eaves. Storm damage can easily pull away material that previously blocked wasps from the perfect place to build their nests. Bird boxes, sheds, and garages are also common places where wasps may decide to nest. They are the most active in the months of July to September, depending on how long the weather remains warm.
Wasps also enjoy sweet foods. Cans of soda, open bottles or cups of fruit juice, fruit trees, and other sugary sources can act like a magnet for wasps seeking a snack.
The most important thing during a wasp treatment is a complete and thorough inspection of these areas. There is rarely just one wasp nest, even though you may only notice one nest at first. Treatment varies based on the size and height of the nest.
WASP AGGRESSION
A wasp will usually not attack unless provoked. For wasps, stinging is reserved for defense of the nest and subduing prey. Expect to get stung if you come in contact with a nest or can be perceived as a threat to it. Swatting or squashing a wasp often leads to a sting as well.
When a wasp is killed, it releases a chemical signal that alerts the rest of its colony to be on high alert. This can heighten wasp aggression, especially when near a nest or when killing a wasp. If you were stung, you may also be at risk of being chased. A sting marks you to other wasps, almost like a tracker for them to follow. Carefully move away from the nest, as they will not bother to chase you far unless you have directly attacked the nest. Keep in mind wasps can travel faster than humans.
DANGEROUS AND FATAL PEST
Unlike bees, wasps do not die after stinging. They can sting multiple times throughout their lifespan. Wasp stings can potentially be deadly, especially if you have an allergy. One sting can be fatal due to anaphylactic shock. Being swarmed by wasps and stung multiple times can be fatal to anyone, regardless of allergies. It is important to keep in mind that wasps are venomous.
If you are allergic and have been stung, seek immediate medical attention. If you are not allergic but the reaction to a sting has not gone away after a few days, a doctor should be consulted.
DYI SOLUTIONS ARE DANGEROUS
There is a lot of information on the Internet that is misleading or simply not accurate. These ‘Do-It-Yourself’ solutions often lead one to believe that wasps can be killed off by simply soaking the nest in soapy water, or using bait to trap a singular wasp in a bottle where it will suffocate.
Firstly, soapy water will only seriously anger a wasp. Secondly, killing one wasp is not going to get rid of the nest, and going one at a time is incredibly inefficient when there can be dozens of wasps inhabiting a nest.
The first thing you should ask yourself when dealing with a wasp nest is, how close are you willing to get while actively threatening the nest? The next thing you should ask yourself is, how fast can you run?
KNOW HOW TO IDENTIFY WASPS
It is important to know whether you are dealing with wasps, yellowjackets, or honeybees. The treatment for each insect is completely different. Wasps are longer and leaner than the others, with an incredibly thin abdomen and thorax. When it is in flight, it looks like it has landing gears. Depending on the species, they can have a brown coloration or be black and yellow.
The most common types of wasps in northeastern Pennsylvania are paper wasps and cicada killers. Cicada killers contain the more brownish coloration, and usually make their homes in forests or gardens. They feed on cicadas and lay their eggs in them. Only females contain stingers and act aggressive when threatened, while a male cicada killer has a bark worse than its bite. It will only fly aggressively at you while being no real threat.
Paper wasps are more instantly recognizable with their black and yellow bodies. They make their nests from a single hanging stalk with a nest looking like it was made out of paper, hence the name, but is really made out of chewed wood and vegetation.
GETTING RID OF WASPS
Calling a professional is the safest and most efficient method of wasp removal. A pest control technician will carefully assess the locations of nests within the home and treat the problem accordingly. A compressed air sprayer is used to spray the nest and kill what is on or inside the nest at the time and leave a residual behind so that wasps returning from foraging ventures will be unable to rebuild their nest.
If a nest is located too high up for a sprayer to reach, a dust stick is used. Dust sticks contain extensions that can reach up to 30 ft., ensuring that a technician does not have to risk their or anyone else’s safety climbing a ladder. The nest is removed, and a layer of dust is left behind to kill any remaining or returning wasps.
A power sprayer is then used to spray all the soffits, eaves, and other areas in or around the house conducive to wasp activity, all while ensuring the health and safety of the clients, their property, their children, and their pets.
Wasps do not hang around for long after realizing that their nest is gone, and they cannot rebuild. Any surviving wasps will disperse to find a better habitat, which is why it is especially important that trained technicians are able to get rid of every possible nesting ground in or around a home.
WASPS IN AN ECOSYSTEM
Wasps have multiple purposes in an ecosystem, including eating other pests and acting as pollinators. It is not uncommon for farmers to purposefully house wasps so that they can eat smaller and more destructive pests that destroy crops. While wasps have their uses in this aspect, remember that having them in your home can be incredibly dangerous. It is often necessary to destroy a nest for the safety of yourself and others.
If the nest is not dangerous and left alone, after winter hibernation, a new queen will create a new nest elsewhere. Wasps do not return to an old nest.
HOW TO TREAT FOR WASPS
At Newtown Termite & Pest Control, we use a multi-faceted approach to eradicate bees, wasps, and hornets that have become problematic for area homes and businesses. Our methodology involves making use of the most appropriate detection, prevention, and treatments sources available for bee control. By combining these treatment measures, we ensure that your home or business remains free of wasps, bees, and hornets.
