How to Detect Wasp Infestations
Wasp infestations, whether outdoors or indoors, are best handled by your Orkin Pro who has the experience, equipment, and products to safely, effectively, and efficiently resolve the concerns. So, whenever wasps are a problem, contact your local Orkin branch and request an inspection and a customized wasp treatment program.
How do wasps get into the house?
Generally, wasps get in through openings that lead inside our homes and commercial buildings. Therefore, effectively sealing openings that may lead into a home is critical to keep wasps out. In addition, sealing access points inside your home will help prevent problems from many other pests.
What Attracts Wasps to A House
Wasps come inside because they are looking for:
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a food source
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a protected place to overwinter (hibernate)
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accident or happenstance
Generally, wasps come inside our homes as the result of three primary conditions and situations.
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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.
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Wasps seek protected, interior spaces to overwinter. Many wasp species have a life cycle that depends on fertile queens from the colony finding a protected site 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, while they're seeking an overwintering site or re-emerging to begin their new nests, they can be bothersome and alarming.
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Wasps that get inside by happenstance such as entering through an open door or window or as “hitchhikers” when they are accidentally brought inside. Wasps are constantly seeking new sources of food for their nest mates. Therefore, it is not surprising that wasps would investigate the inside of homes if they can readily get inside. In addition, while it does not happen often, wasps can unintentionally get inside if they “hitch a ride” on items that are being brought inside a home.
How to Know if You Have a Wasp Problem
The answer to this question depends on why the wasp got inside.
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If a wasp nest is built inside, the resulting problem is an infestation that may become a serious stinging episode and perhaps an associated allergic reaction problem. Also, wasps that nest inside may damage the wallboard or ceiling. Another major problem associated with inside nests is the possibility of scavenger pests that infest abandoned inside wasp nests.
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If a wasp gets inside to overwinter, it is very likely that it won’t even be seen until the following spring when it decides to get outside and start a new nest. Even then, those wasps are not very aggressive and not likely to sting unless threatened.
Could wasps inside lead to an infestation?
Yes, if the wasps that get inside build a nest that is also inside, and the activities of that nest bring them into contact with the people who live there. Otherwise, overwintering wasps and those that get inside by “hitchhiking” will not become an infestation.
How to Repel Wasps
Wasps have a very strong sense of smell. Because of this, there are quite a few fragrant plants that can be used to repel them from your home. Aromatic herbs like peppermint, citronella, and eucalyptus are known to deter wasps naturally. Additionally, cucumber peels can also serve as a potential wasp repellent as wasps don't like their bitterness. Although these plants can all be used to help repel wasp naturally, they may not offer a permanent solution to wasp infestations. Contact an Orkin Pro for help effectively removing wasps from your home.
Contact Your Local Orkin Pro For Wasp Pest Control
Handling wasps can be dangerous as they can produce a painful sting. Contact your local Orkin Pro for wasp pest control services.
