Have you seen wasps flying about in your lawn or in your neighborhood lately? Chances are, there is a nest nearby. It is important that you locate it and remove it right away, especially if it poses an imminent danger.
Wasps can be dangerous. They’re known to be more aggressive than their bee cousins. Unlike bees who die off after stinging once, wasps can sting you multiple times. When you disturb a lone wasp, it releases pheromones that signal the others in the colony to come for back up. Before you know it, a swarm of angry wasps could be attacking you. A sting or two may only cause minor discomfort to most people but 30-40 stings can be deadly.
To ensure safety for you and your family, you need to know where wasps usually make nests, how to identify a wasp nest, and how to get rid of it.
Where Wasps Usually Nest
Wasps nest, live, and forage outside. However, the structures in our homes make great nests while trash cans and compost bins are perfect foraging sites for wasps. This is why they find places near houses and buildings a suitable site to establish their colony.
They like to stay where there’s a cavity or a void. Their nests can be seen on trees, rotting logs, electrical poles, eaves, awnings, roof edges, sheds, and even your garage. Some wasps nest in the attic and even in bathroom vents.
How to Identify Wasps and Their Nests
Most nests of wasps common in North Carolina have a paper-like appearance. Each wasp species creates a distinct nest that can look like the ones below. It helps to know what wasp species occupy it for better handling.
- • Grey, papery umbrella-like canopy with exposed honeycomb-like cells are made by paper wasps. These are usually found outside the exterior of houses and buildings - under eaves, awnings, windowsills, and deck railings. Paper wasps have long legs, reddish-brown to black bodies with yellowish or brown striping, and spindle-shaped abdomens.
• Tan, papery nests located near a cavity or a void belong to yellow jackets. These are commonly located in sandy lawns, rotted logs, attics, and wall cavities in houses and buildings. One nest can contain up to 800 yellow jackets. This type of wasp has a small body with yellow and black markings. They are territorial and will attack when they feel that the nest is under threat.
• Smooth, papery nest that is round with a slightly pointed bottom and one big opening belongs to European hornets. A nest may only be the size of a football but it can house up to 1,000 wasps. European hornets look like yellow jackets but are larger and are brownish red with a light yellow abdomen. They are also active at night and are drawn to lights, which makes them a nuisance to nighttime activities held outside.
How to Get Rid of a Wasp Nest
When you see a wasp nest within your property, call professional pest control immediately. We are knowledgeable, highly-skilled, and well-trained to get rid of wasps and other pests.
We also have the right tools and chemicals that will ensure the safety and success of the treatment.
Once a wasp colony abandons the nest, it will not be reused. Still, you need to follow some measures to prevent them from coming back and nesting in your property again.
- Seal and repair any opening around windows, doors, exterior walls, and roof line. Remember that wasps such as the yellow jackets can make nests in the attics and voids within your home. Keep them from entering by sealing off these structures.
- Keep logs, tree branches, shrubs, and bushes away from your home.
- Close trash cans and compost bins properly to avoid attracting foraging wasps near your property.
Our Charlotte pest control company can also give you more pointers on what you can do to prevent them from coming back, based on your own needs and property conditions. So if you want to solve the wasp problem in your area completely and safely, leave it to the professionals.
