You probably want to avoid wasps. I mean, who wants to have the risk of stepping outside and getting stung? The problem is that you might be attracting these bugs without even realizing it. All it takes is one wasp to notice something attractive about your yard and they will all come rolling in to stay!
What’s worse is that they can actually get inside of your home! This blog post will show you how to take the sting out of these infestations and prevent them from migrating to your home.
What Attracts Wasps?
Like all other living things, wasps are looking for two important things – food and shelter. Let’s look at how we can make sure that you are not creating a place for them to spread their wings.
Food
Wasps love sugary treats. I mean, who doesn’t? But wasps depend on them for survival. Ripe fruits or nectar are going to attract them. Wasps are pollinators, though they are not as heavy into it as bees. But it means that they are going to be attracted to flowers that are growing around your home.
Shelter
Wasps build their nests in voids that are secluded, yet easily accessible through flight. Here are some examples:
- Attics
- Crawl spaces
- Corners
- Rafters
- Tree branches
- Porch ceilings
- Window corners
Preventing Wasp Infestations
There’s not a surefire method of completely preventing wasps from nesting in your yard but there are several steps you can take to make it must less appealing. Here are some tips that you should follow:
- When grilling, be sure to keep all sugary foods and beverages covered.
- Clean up any rotting fruit from your yard.
- If you want a garden, try planting it away from your home if possible. I know that sometimes this is not an option but if you can find a better location away from your home, then you should consider it.
- Screens on door and/or windows on your porch must be free of holes. That keeps the wasps from nesting in a living area.
- Seal off all potential entry points. Holes in the soffits or attic vent screens can allow wasps inside of your home. Seal these to block their entry.
What to Do if Wasps Infest your Home
If you or a member of your family are allergic to wasps, then it can be a serious problem when they get into your home. Wasps will sting if they think you are threatening their queen. Furthermore, trying to remove a nest will put you in harm’s way. Dozens of wasps can sting you multiple times.
That’s why it’s usually a good idea to call in a professional when you find a nest inside of your home. Trained exterminators have tools that you do not, so they can safely remove these nests.
If you must do it yourself, then it’s advised that you cover all areas of your skin. Then spray it with some form of insecticide and wait for the wasps to die or move on. But this is still quite hazardous.
