Protecting Your Home from Summer Wasps

Summer is a time for outdoor fun, family gatherings, and enjoying the warm weather. However, it also brings the risk of wasps invading your home and yard. Wasps can be aggressive and their stings are painful. Here are some expert tips to help protect your home from wasps and ensure a safe and enjoyable summer.

Understanding Wasps

Wasps are beneficial insects in many ways, as they help control other pest populations and pollinate plants. However, they can become a nuisance when they build nests near human activity areas. Common wasp species that can be problematic include paper wasps, yellowjackets, and hornets. Understanding their behavior and nesting habits is the first step in preventing infestations.

Preventing Wasps from Nesting

Inspect and Seal Entry Points

Wasps often enter homes through small cracks and gaps. Regularly inspect your home for potential entry points, such as gaps in window screens, cracks in the walls, and openings around doors. Seal these areas with caulk or weatherstripping to prevent wasps from finding a way inside. You should even consider exclusion services like gutter protection to keep wasps from building nests inside your gutters increasing risk of them entering your home through builder gaps.

Remove Food Sources

Wasps are attracted to food and sugary substances. Keep your outdoor dining areas clean and promptly clean up any spills. Store garbage in tightly sealed containers and avoid leaving pet food outside. Additionally, keep ripe fruit picked from trees and bushes to reduce the attraction for wasps.

Regular Yard Maintenance

Maintaining your yard can significantly reduce the chances of wasps nesting near your home. Trim back overgrown vegetation and regularly mow your lawn to eliminate potential nesting sites. Remove any piles of debris, fallen branches, or unused items that could provide shelter for wasps.

Use Wasp-Repelling Plants

Certain plants can help deter wasps from settling in your yard. Plants such as mint, eucalyptus, citronella, and wormwood are known to repel wasps. Incorporate these plants into your garden or place potted versions around outdoor seating areas to create a natural barrier.

Handling Existing Nests

Identifying Nests

Wasps build nests in various locations, including under eaves, in attics, behind shutters, and in bushes or trees. Paper wasps construct umbrella-shaped nests, while yellowjackets and hornets create more enclosed, football-shaped nests. Identifying the type of nest can help determine the best removal method.

Safe Nest Removal

Removing a wasp nest can be dangerous and should be done with caution. It is often best to hire a professional pest control service, especially for large nests or those in difficult-to-reach areas. If you choose to remove a small nest yourself, do so in the early morning or late evening when wasps are less active. Wear protective clothing and use a wasp spray designed to kill on contact. Spray the nest thoroughly and repeat the process if necessary.

Preventing Re-infestation

After removing a nest, take steps to prevent wasps from returning. Clean the area where the nest was located with soap and water to remove any pheromones that could attract new wasps. Continue monitoring your home and yard for signs of new nests and act quickly to address any that appear.

Professional Wasp Control

When to Call a Professional

While DIY methods can be effective for small infestations, larger problems often require professional intervention. If you notice multiple nests, have a severe allergic reaction to wasp stings, or simply feel uncomfortable handling wasp removal, contact a pest control professional. They have the expertise and equipment to safely and effectively eliminate wasp problems.

Benefits of Professional Services

Professional pest control services like PURCOR Pest Solutions offer several advantages, including thorough inspections, targeted treatments, and long-term prevention strategies. They can identify and address potential nesting sites, use specialized products that are not available to the public, and provide ongoing monitoring to ensure wasps do not return.

Find out how to protect your home from summer wasps with these expert tips. Shop wasp control solutions online and stay safe! PURCOR uses an Integrated Pest Management approach, which means that pest control methods involve identifying and eliminating the cause of pest infestations, and only applying chemical treatments when necessary. Our products are applied in a way that keeps your family, pets, and the environment in mind, so you don’t have to worry. Plus, our quarterly services are guaranteed to keep away the pests causing you stress, otherwise we’ll come back for a free retreatment. Save yourself the trouble of wondering how to DIY pest control safely and get professional assistance you can trust with PURCOR Pest Solutions.

If your home or business has been invaded by one or more common pests, don’t fight back alone. Send in the pros at PURCOR Pest Control to take care of your wasp or other pest problem once and for all. Give us a call or buy online to get started today! Find a service area near you today to find a team of professionals to help.