Crawling insects, like ants and termites, often venture far away from home in search of food. But flying insects, like wasps and hornets, are not like that. They hardly ever stray far from their nests. So, if you see one in your yard, there is probably a nest nearby.
Knocking down the nest by yourself is probably a bad idea. You only have one shot, and if you miss, the wasps will get incredibly angry. It’s better to locate the nest and then call a professional. Once the technicians arrive, point out the nest to them. They’ll take care of it.
Identify the Insect
From a distance, wasps look a lot like beneficial honeybees or harmless bumblebees. Both kinds of insects have roughly the same feeding habits. So, get close, but not too close. Stay at least eight or ten feet away from the insects. Wasps are only aggressive if they feel threatened. Don’t get too close and do not make any sudden movements. Even if you run away, the wasp may become aggressive.
Monitor Them
Wasps are predictable. They often flutter around to feed. They may go from a sugary drink spill to a flower to wood fencing. When they finish feeding, they usually fly in a straight line back to their nests.
If you lose sight of the wasps, switch to Plan B. Lay out some food, like cat food or a little canned salmon, as bait. Wasps are not particularly smart critters. They will take the bait and fly straight back to their nests.
Follow Them Home
Like most other creatures, including most insects, wasps crave shelter. That shelter could be inside or outside a structure.
If you see the wasps flying into a hole, their nest is probably inside the structure, perhaps in a crawl space. You’ll probably also see wasps flying out in search of food, so be a little sneaky.
Most wasps are paper wasps. They use a combination of mud and whatever else they can find, like sticks or blades of grass, to build hexagonal nests. The nests are usually located in corners or between exposed ceiling beams.
To get rid of wasps and keep them away, call All Solutions Pest Control.
