by Naomi LightHow Do You Get Rid Of A Wasp Infestation?
Wasps can be very inconvenient and scary pests for many people. They will often set up wasp nests near houses and get inside through open doors and windows while also stinging if threatened. It is also true that since wasps have an important purpose in the food chain, solutions to get rid of wasps can vary based on the situation. Not all wasps are negatives, and learning about wasps and bees is important in safely stopping infestations as well as getting rid of wasps. This is because wasps can be beneficial to gardens as they feed their grubs on caterpillars and other insects.
Prepare Safety
If you are personally comfortable going near a wasps nest, you need to be prepared for the chance of being stung.
Most species of wasps will only sting if provoked. However, it is always best to wear protective clothing, long sleeves and long pants with closed-toed shoes and fingered gloves to ensure the minimum skin is exposed. Glasses or goggles can also be used to protect your eyes.
Identify The Nests
If wasps are flying about, it is a good reason to go and look for wasp nests. Just because one is found doesn’t mean there aren’t more, as there can be multiple wasp nests upon a single property.
This is because if an area is good for some wasps, it is likely good for others. Good areas to check for wasp nests are: underneath window sills, on plants, trees, bushes and the ground surrounding, undisturbed areas and overhangs of buildings.
Identify The Species
While at a safe distance, it is good to know what type of wasp you’re dealing with, especially since some wasps can be confused for bees or hornets, as well as vice versa.
Whether the wasp nest is situated on a building, the ground, or a tree is often the first insight into the species. Once location(s) have been discovered, inspecting the nest can also help narrow down the species.
There may be some overlap between species and their habits, so getting as much information is important to ensure that the best possible plan can be made. This should be done without getting too close to the nest to help prevent agitating them.
The colouring, patterns and size should be the last indicators to understand what type of wasp is present and nesting fully.
Determine A Treatment Plan
A treatment plan will depend on all known factors, what colony is it, the size of each, how many are present, and where they are located and if anyone in the immediate area has allergies to stinging insects.
All of this needs to be factored in to reduce the risk and make sure getting rid of the problem is successful. Keep in mind that when an individual social wasp (such as yellow jackets) is disturbed, they can alert other members of the colony, which is how they can swarm to attack.
Wasp stings
Being stung by a wasp can be extremely painful, but for some with allergies, it can be much more, or for small children, it can be upsetting and frightening. The reason some people are allergic to a wasp’s sting is due to the venomous nature of wasps. A wasp will sting in defence, and unlike bees, they can remove their stinger from a victim, meaning they can sting again. They will likely sting if they think they, their nest or their young are under threat.
To avoid being stung, there are various steps you can take. Not panicking is essential. Keep calm and move slowly and avoid screaming or swatting at wasps as otherwise, they could become agitated. Avoiding strong sweet smells can help; these can be fragrances or shampoos, as some smells may attract wasps, which can cause some to panic and then agitate them further.
Avoiding bright colours and floral patterns on clothing, as wasps may be attracted to such things. Staying away from orchards can lower your chance of encountering wasps; this is also true for uncovered bins, as both can be areas where wasps gather for food.
Open cans of drinks, especially soft drinks, can be spaces where wasps crawl inside. Be cautious of unattended drink cans, and if you are drinking from a soft drink can then aim to keep it covered to deter wasps, as well as making sure your hands and face are clean with soap and water. This is especially important for children or anyone after eating sweet food or drinks.
Wasp Prevention Tips
When summer comes, wasps become more frequent. This is because queen wasps are the only ones who survive through winter, who then create a new colony in spring which leads to wasps being associated with hotter months.
It is always easier to prevent the issue than to deal with it once it has come about, but checking quickly when even a few wasps are seen is a good start, as before a nest fully forms, it will still be easier to get rid of wasps. Nests can be in lofts, garages, sheds, cavity walls or underneath eaves, so checking these can be a good way to start with prevention. These locations will also be useful to equip with wasp repellent products, which work as a preventative measure.
Securing bins can reduce the chance that wasps will nest within a property. It means wasps won’t be attracted to the contents or see them as a food source, which means they have less reason to build nests in the area. Keeping windows and doors shut or obfuscated to prevent wasps from getting into a house or location can also be helpful.
What clothing you wear can also help or worsen the chance of a wasp following you, as bright colours or floral patterns may end up attracting wasps as well as perfumes that are strong or sweet.
Removing food sources is a great way to stop the nesting of wasps. This is in part because wasps imprint food sources, meaning that if they do find food, they may come back even if no food is available when they do, so make sure they don’t have the chance wherever possible.
As well as this, planting herbs such as spearmint, thyme and eucalyptus do an excellent job as a natural wasp repellent, as can peppermint oil.
Wasp Control for Businesses
Wasps for businesses can be a huge problem, as they can interfere with usual processes and can distract or impede customers and employees alike. This means that businesses will want to get rid of wasps as soon as possible and prevent it from happening again, often through pest control or other professional solutions.
Especially if a customer is stung on a business premise, they are unlikely to return as it can build negative impressions as well as potentially leading to refund requests. It is also notable that even if the nest has been dealt with, it can take several days for all the remnants of wasps to leave, as not all of the foraging wasps will be in the nest at a single time, meaning some will return after the nest has been dealt with.
There are various solutions to wasp problems, such as wasp traps that lure wasps away from intrusive areas and away from customers and staff into the trap, which they won’t be able to escape from once a wasp enters.
Electrical zappers, which lure many flying insects in order to kill them quickly and efficiently, with various versions depending on the individual needs.
Insect screens mean that wasps can be prevented from entering a premise; however, they will still allow for natural ventilation to occur.
Wasp nest removal
Removing a wasp nest can be a dangerous undertaking, as if not properly planned and considered, they will sting whoever attempts to remove the nest to defend both the nest and their young.
In order to solve the problem, it is not necessarily required that the nest itself is removed, but the nest and the nesting wasps must be treated. If both the nest and wasps are treated, then there will be no risk of being stung by those wasps or otherwise obstructed by them. The more time a wasp nest has to mature, the more difficult it is to solve.
Therefore, if a mature nest is found late into the summer, this is when the greatest risk is, and it becomes increasingly recommended to get professional help if you are not comfortable with the task.
Nests can house thousands of individual wasps inside in these stages, which be hugely inconvenient and daunting to treat.
DIY attempts to get rid of wasp nests can be attempted; however, it is only recommended to do so if the nest is accessible from the property, they are only small nests (size of a golf ball or tennis ball), there is minimal wasp activity around the wasp nest and if you aren’t allergic to wasp stings.
Do you have a wasp problem? Are you looking for pest control in Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas get in touch today.