If you’re a homeowner, you’ve probably had to deal with unwelcome pests and creatures in and around your home. Spring and summer are likely to be buzzing with activity when all kinds of insects attempt to set up shop and ride out the season right in your own backyard. Beware — many of these pests, such as wasps, can be highly dangerous to your family.
Wasp infestations
Warm weather inspires wasps to build a story nest on or around any sturdy horizontal structure. This could be the underside of your eaves, along your garage, or even on a low-hanging branch in your backyard. Wasps look for certain “creature comforts” in order to be attracted to your home. These elements of survival include:
- A corner spot or overhang where the nest will be protected
- A supply of accessible wood for building
- Other insects as part of their food supply
- Access to indoor shelter for winter months
If you have any of the above, this can make your home more attractive to nesting wasps. Their stings are painful, unsightly, and can cause dire health consequences for some.
Attempting to remove a wasp nest on your own may not be a good idea. So if you have to deal with a growing population, call a pest control expert to deal with the situation quickly and efficiently.
In the meantime, there are several steps you can take to safely deal with wasps by yourself, as long as you take the proper precautions and don’t get too close to the nest. Take these steps to minimize contact between you and your new tenants.
Spray essential oils blends
Wasps absolutely detest the scent of clove, lemongrass, and geranium oils. Mixing a few drops with water in a spray bottle and spraying around the exterior of your home, especially around corners and overhangs, will drive potential populations away. Make sure not to apply water to an active nest, or you’ll have a buzzy period of time shortly afterward!
Try soap and water
Did you know that a simple solution of dish soap and water is enough to clog up a wasp’s breathing pores, causing it to instantly die? Mix up this concoction and spray it at wasps for a DIY solution. Make sure you’re well protected with long sleeves and long pants, and keep others away from the nesting area as you target the wasp population at your home.
Make a wasp trap
Wasps seek sugary solutions as part of their sustenance. You can go the DIY route by sawing the top off of a 2-liter bottle and inserting it inside the bottom, or you might choose to purchase any number of decorative options that almost resemble patio decor. Either way, you’ll be attacking the insects one by one, ensuring that their days are numbered.
Patch up those cracks
Take preventative measures and patch up cracks and holes where wasps could take cover and build a protected nest. The best time to seal everything off is either during late fall when worker wasps have died off or in the early spring before nests become active again.
Seal up garbage cans
Your refuse is another source of food for wasps. Keeping your trash bins sealed and away from your home will make it difficult for insects to find a consistent food source. Making this element of survival difficult will ensure that even if wasps do survey your property, they probably won’t stay for long.
Limit your outdoor water resources
Kiddie pools, hanging water basins and birdbaths are all ideal places for wasps to water themselves. Removing these tempting oases from your property will make it difficult for wasps to remain, as water is vital for their survival. As much as possible, rid your yard of standing water sources so you won’t have to deal with as many wasps.
Enjoy safe outdoor time
Wasps can be both tough and dangerous to deal with. Make sure you’re being as careful as possible, and employ help from professionals if you don’t feel comfortable trying these eradication methods. You deserve to have a safe, fun outdoor time with family and friends. And ridding your home and property of wasps will ensure you can do just that.
