A warm summer day and a backyard picnic can present an invitation to wasps. Food and drinks, especially the sweet stuff, can attract wasps, bees and similar stinging insects. Wasps and hornets are most active during the summer and autumn months and can become even more aggressive later in the season. Getting stung by a wasp can be nothing more than a painful nuisance for most of us, but insect bites and stings can be a serious problem for some people who may have allergic reactions that require immediate medical care.



Control of these insects can be a difficult task. Ironically, wasps can be thought as a beneficial pest. Just like spiders and other predatory insects, wasps prey and feed on certain species of insects that are many of us consider to be equally as pesky like flies and crickets One of the important keys to controlling wasps is to eliminate their nests and make the exterior of your home less inviting to the average wasp colony.

Wasps are nest builders using techniques very similar to the honeycomb construction used by most species of bees. Unlike a bee hive which is made out of waxy substance, a wasps nest will look more like cardboard and is the product of the wasp chewing wood pulp and combining it with their saliva. The nests will can appear almost anywhere on the exterior of the home mostly on the eaves or behind downspouts. The interior of garages, barns and other outbuildings are also popular nesting spots for wasps. Very often you can actually see the wasps coming and going from a particular spot, a sure sign that a nest is nearby.

Wasps will very often construct a nest inside your house with cracks and crevices in the exterior of the building providing a very secure location for wasps to take up residence. If the nest has been constructed inside the frame work of the building, getting rid of it can be more difficult. Wasps occasionally find their way into your home. An open door or a window screen in need of repair allow access to the interior of your house, so make sure that window and door screens are in good repair.

The winter months are a good time to take a look around the outside of the house and make sure any openings are completely sealed up. Try to remove any old nests you come across since the dead wasps that may inside are a convenient food source for other unwanted insects. Fall is another good time to survey the exterior of your home, especially after the first frost since freezing temperatures cause the wasps to die.

If you discover the nest of an active colony, there are several non-chemical methods you can use to eliminate the nest. Always take extreme care when trying to remove an active nest and never attempt to remove if you or someone with an allergy to insect bites is around as this can be a potentially life-threatening endeavor. Never try to approach an active nest when the wasps are present. Wait until evening when the wasps tend to be less active. Light can act as a natural attractant so avoid using a flashlight without filtering the light. The nest can be slowly and carefully dislodged and dropped in a plastic bag. After you have dislodged the nest, immediately seal the bag and dispose of it taking care to make sure it remains sealed.

If you do not feel confident dealing with the problem, consult a pest control professional and insist that they not use any chemical pesticides unless it is absolutely necessary. Many local health departments and farm extension offices can give you advice on how to effectively deal with a wasp infestation.