What To Do About Wasps?

It’s hard to keep your cool when yellow jackets or wasps target your summer picnic. Because they are more aggressive than bees, these stinging visitors can make everyone anxious, and they’re hard to ignore. If you have children, pets, or people who are allergic, avoiding stings is especially important. Additionally, you should always treat for wasps if you see them flying in and out of a small hole in the side of your home.

Stay safe from stinging insects at home and outdoors

First, understanding if you are dealing with a bee, wasp, yellow jacket, hornet, or other stinging insect is important. Bees are generally round with fat, furry bodies. Wasps and yellow jackets are longer and thinner with shiny bodies that have little or no visible fur.

Bees will generally not bother you unless threatened. If you think bees are nesting in a sensitive location where they might encounter people, such as near a doorway, contact a beekeeping expert to help relocate the colony. Additionally, beehives, or nests, are made out of wax, not paper.
Wasps and yellow jackets can be difficult to manage on your own because they can be aggressive, especially when defending a hive or nest. Over the counter wasp sprays and repellants are contact kill insecticides and provide no protection once dry.

Read more on how to determine which type of stinging insect you have!

Wasp and yellow jacket prevention tips

Preventing stinging insect nests on your home

Look for signs of a nest, especially along the south or southwest facing side of your home.
Inspect under gutters, overhangs, and peaks. The backsides of shutters and second story decks are also common nesting areas.
Take action in spring to prevent wasps nesting on your home—wasps nest in May and June.
Treat or remove nests before they are well established—even a small nest can have hundreds or thousands of wasps.
Never seal up a wasp opening before eliminating the hive, or you risk driving them further into your home. Wasps have chewing mouthparts just like carpenter ants and can chew through sheetrock and wood.

Tips to avoid wasp and yellow jacket stings

Wasps are typically less active in early morning or late evening.
Wear protective clothing, especially if you are outside in mid-day or near active nests.
Serve food and drinks just before eating to avoid attracting yellow jackets, and look before you sip when eating outdoors!
Keep garbage cans tightly covered and store them away from people.
Over the counter products only kill on contact; they will not target the nest.
Consider professional treatment for your home—commercial products leave a protective residual up to 60 days after being applied.

For more information on identifying wasps, visit Insect Identification for the Casual Observer.