Well, folks, it’s about that time of year again. I was outside on my porch when I looked up and noticed no one. Not two. But three or four wasps all patrolling under the eves of my home, looking for a place to make a nest. So I figured it’s that time again, with spring right around the corner to talk about Florida wasp control. We’ll touch on the species that live here, what to do if you get an infestation, and give you a few home control tips.
Florida Wasp Control: Overview
Wasps are categorized as either social or solitary wasps, depending on their species. As you can probably guess, social wasps live in colonies which can number into thousands of individuals. Within these colonies, the rolls are filled with different genders, like bees. Female workers, for example, perform the duties within the nests. Solitary wasps, on the other hand, live alone. These wasps do not form colonies or interact with other wasps except to mate. They lay eggs like social wasps but leave them alone to hatch.
Some wasps are predatory, and some are even parasitic. Predatory wasps obviously kill and eat other animals. The parasitic species often will paralyze their prey and lay their eggs on top of them, and the wasp larvae consume the dead insect or animal as they develop.
Wasps, oddly enough, are pretty good at assisting in dealing with other pests as a biological control agents because they’re such voracious predators of agricultural pests.
Some wasps are aggressive species and can sting when threatened. Unlike honey bees, wasps often are capable of stinging multiple times.
Do Wasps pollinate?
When considering whether or not you need some Florida wasp control, consider that many species are important pollinators. However, taken as a group, wasps do pollinate but are not as effective at pollinating as bees. This is primarily because bees have hairier bodies than wasps, so pollen is more likely to stick to a bee’s body and be transported from one flower to another.
Florida Wasp Control: Paper wasps
Paper wasps are very populous in the United States.
There are over 22 species of paper wasps in the U.S., most of which are brownish in color with yellow markings. Often confused with yellowjackets, paper wasps are sometimes referred to as umbrella wasps and are most easily identified by their nests. Paper wasp nests often look like an upside-down paper cones and typically hang from a horizontal surface in a shaded, protected location. Like other types of wasps, paper wasps feed on insects, spiders, and the like.
Paper wasp nests are known to look like upside-down umbrellas and have a paper-mȃché feel to them. Unlike yellow jackets, paper wasp nests are somewhat open and not completely covered. Nests can most often be found either on tree branches or under eaves, attic rafters, and porch ceilings. Because nests can be built directly on a home, these wasps have been known to make their way indoors through holes in attic vent screens or underneath shingles.
Paper wasps are usually not detrimental insects. Like mud daubers, paper wasps are considered to be good for the environment. They also assist in pollination as I mentioned above. However, disturbing their nests is a dangerous idea, as they swarm and will sting multiple times without dying, unlike bees. That’s why you should leave the Florida wasp control to a professional if you truly need it.
Paper wasps are moderately aggressive insects. They eat nectar and other insects and will help each other build nests but there is only one queen who will lay the eggs.
Yellowjackets in Florida
You can find these guys throughout the U.S., and they’re easily the most infamous species of wasps. These beneficial wasps live in colonies with thousands of individuals and would be a lesser threat to humans were it not for their opportunistic behavior of nesting in structural voids, attics, and cavities associated with landscaping features. Adult yellowjackets feed mainly on fruit juices and other sweet liquid materials, whereas their larvae are fed bits of soft-bodied insects like caterpillars and flies. These wasps are known to become more aggressive in the late fall and early fall months.
You can divide yellow jackets into a few groups. One of them is called the ground nesters. Obviously, they use old rodent nests and other such things on the ground to live in. Aerial nesters are the different type of yellow jackets. They build nests among the leafy branches of trees and shrubs and also on the eaves of structures. Wall voids, crawlspaces, and attics can also house yellow jackets. These aerial nesters don’t become scavengers in the fall, but they are extremely defensive when their nests are disturbed. Locating the nest through observing flight patterns is essential to eliminate them.
Florida Wasp Control: At home tips
There are several ways to discourage wasps from building nests attached to or near your home. Especially on the porch. For one, remove all sources of food from around your porch. Hummingbird feeders with easy access to sugar water or compost piles are favorites of wasps. Remove any decaying plant material from your porch and keep it far away from spots you don’t want wasps.
Also, consider placing plants with wasp repelling qualities around your house. These plants can create a kind of protective barrier around small spots. Such plants can include wormwood, marigold, mint, basil, pennyroyal, and geranium.
Seal your garbage as well. The same principle I mentioned above with compost piles applies here. They love rotting old food just as much as something nice and fresh. In the spring and summer, wasps crave protein-rich foods, which means they will be drawn to any kind of meat you have on the grill this summer. In the colder months, wasps become sweets junkies attracted to every sugary substance.
And finally, make sure any cracks or paths into your walls or house are properly from the outside and caulked and sealed. Wasps can make nests in wall voids and can squeeze in through pretty small spaces, so being diligent in keeping them sealed out is very important.
