Wasps are really one of the worst infestations you can have. Sure, they won’t suck your blood. They may not even bother you much if they can avoid it. But once you reach the point of having a nest every few feet on your home, you’ll be walking on eggshells. That’s why today we’ll be discussing Florida Wasp Control.
Florida Wasp Control: Overview
Wasps are flying yellow-and-black insects that make their homes on the undersides of trees and decks. You can usually find them nesting inside of dumpsters and under house eves as well. In some extreme cases, some nests can even grow to contain over ten thousand wasps. Many people prefer to deal with these hives before they get that bad, though, as they defend their territory viciously and sting multiple times when provoked.
Generally, wasps get into your home through openings in windows, doors, or the structure itself. That’s why sealing openings that can lead to your home is critical for wasp prevention. In doing so, you also preemptively prevent many other types of infestations from occurring. If they can’t get in, they can’t infest!
But to start with, don’t panic if you have a small nest near your garden and that’s it. Like bees, wasps help pollinate plants and are beneficial to have in a garden. Not only that, but they eliminate other pests that contribute to the destruction of your plants. Sure, wasp stings are painful, and removal is the way to go for sure if you have allergic reactions to their stings. But wasp nests in remote locations can generally be left alone.
A wasp infestation begins when a queen finds a nesting space in the hollow of a tree, a roof or another shady spot. The queen typically settles on a site in the spring and begins producing workers to build the nest. Wasps ingest wood to create a paper-like material for the bulk of the nest, continuing to build until the fall. At this time, the wasps will die out and the nest is abandoned. Wasps will not return to a previously used nest.
Florida Wasp Control: How They Get In
Generally, wasps come inside our homes as a result of three primary conditions and situations.
One or more wasp nests are built either inside or near openings that lead inside the house. For example, a wasp nest might be located near a window with a damaged screen or a door that is left open to the outside. Since wasps sometimes construct their nests in wall voids and attic spaces, wasps from those nests may get inside our home’s living spaces. One of the more frequent causes of this occurrence is when a homeowner sees wasps going into and out of a void. The homeowner may seal up that entry and exit before all of the wasps in that nest are dead. The result may become a whole nest of wasps that can no longer get outside and begin to chew through the wallboard or ceiling, resulting in angry, confused wasps that are now inside the house.
Wasps that seek protected, interior spaces in which to overwinter. Many wasp species have a lifecycle that depends on fertile queens from the colony finding a protected site in which to survive the winter. Most of the time these queens choose sites other than inside our homes to overwinter. They also find our attics or other protected sites inside the home to be very cozy. Once the female wasp is settled in, they usually are not seen flying around inside the home. However, until they find the right overwintering site and then again in the spring when they want to get outdoors and begin their new nest, they can be troublesome and alarming.
“hitchhikers”
Wasps that get inside by happenstance such as entering through an open door or window or become “hitchhikers” who are accidentally brought inside. Wasps are constantly seeking new sources of food for their nestmates. Therefore, it is not surprising that wasps would investigate the inside of homes if they can readily get inside the home. In addition, while it does not happen too often, wasps can unintentionally get inside if they “hitch a ride” on just about anything we might bring inside our homes and not notice the hitchhiking wasp.
Preventing and Dealing With An Infestation
Wasps are attracted to shady and protected areas. Ensure that there are no open spaces in nearby trees or hollow areas on the outside of your house. Wasps also tend to gather around opened waste bins, food containers, and compost. Keep garbage receptacles closed and clean and do not leave food scraps accessible where the wasps may have access to them.
If an infestation does occur, there are a variety of effective wasp control methods. If you decide that the nest is in a bad spot, check your local gardening equipment store for treatment methods.
Pesticides and insecticides are common wasp control methods. You apply pesticide to the entrance of the nest, killing the wasps inside. Alternately, you may be able to spray the pesticide onto the nest from a safe distance. However, this method puts children and pets at risk of poisoning, as pesticides are harmful to humans and other animals as well as wasps.
A safer and healthier option is to burn the nest. Using a stick or torch, burn the nest, being careful to avoid burning the surrounding nesting site. You should follow this treatment with a pesticide spray or application for greater effectiveness.
What Should You Do?
But pesticide is a last-ditch option, in all honesty. It’s dangerous for you and the environment. That’s why natural Florida wasp control would be the way to go. Remember, this isn’t like an infestation of roaches. If you improperly disturbed a nest, these insects can and will defend it. That’s why you should contact a natural pest control specialist, for the safety of yourself, your family, and your property. At the end of the day, leave it to the pros.
