Menu
While there may be deadlier insects in the world, none are more common and threatening to daily life than wasps. Not only are they resilient to the arid climate in Utah, but they are also notorious for being difficult to eradicate. Worse, more than two million Americans have allergic reactions to insect stings, which can lead to serious trips to the hospital.
Here are some tips to protect yourself and your family from wasps and what not to do should you find them living on your property.
The first step is finding where the wasps have built their nest. Wasp nests are commonly seen clinging to the underside of roofs. In truth, wasps will build their nest anywhere they deem safe and close to sources of food and water. Wasp queens build their nests by chewing plant matter and wood fibers, mixing them with saliva, and adhering them to the wood pulp where necessary.
Without proper treatment, wasp nests can become gigantic. They never reuse nests should they be driven out by weather or poor pest removal, but they can have favorite nesting areas they return to every year.
Follow any wasps that fly through your home and seal up any entry points they use to get in. The most common ways wasps enter homes are through cracks in window frames, loose door frames, and under unsecured baseboards.
Wasps are dependent on the food and water near their nests. Even if you are unsure of their primary source of food, the best thing to do is identify their water source. This can take the form of open rain barrels, leaking faucets, and standing puddles of water. Once Nature’s Gate Pest Control gets rid of the wasps, removing easily-accessible water is a strong step to keeping them away for good.
Children and small animals are very vulnerable to wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets. Little boys and girls are naturally curious, but don’t let them learn the hard way! Even if your kids don’t have allergies to insect stings, a wasp sting is extremely painful, and many stings can require a trip to the hospital. Dogs that get too close can get a face full of wasp stings and require similar medical treatment.
Before attempting your own pest control, there are two important vital facts you should know about wasps: they do not like water and they become very angry when wet. You might be able to dislodge a hanging wasp nest with a blast from your hose, but any wasps that called that nest home will immediately become aggressive.
Additionally, if there is a wasp nest near your home, be sure to give it a wide berth after a rainstorm.
Don’t risk your health or your family’s safety trying to exterminate a wasp infestation by yourself. For safe and effective wasp removal, call the experts at Nature’s Gate Pest Control. No matter the size of the nest, we will get rid of the nasty stingers and make sure they never come back. Make an appointment with one of our pest control technicians today!
