Common FAQ’s About Killing Wasps
2.Does WD40 kill wasps?
4.Does soapy water kill wasps?
What Are Wasps?
There are several different species of flying insects, and they differ in a vast number of ways. Wasps are closely related to both bees and ants, but they’re often defined as slim-waisted flying insects that are members of the suborder Apocrita.
Still, these adaptive insects can burrow into the ground, build papery nests alongside buildings, or construct complex cell-based homes inside of fallen trees or empty pipes. Identifying them is the first step to removing them from your property.
Common Types of Wasps
Wasps can look very similar to honeybees, or they can look long flying ants. Some types of wasps, like yellow jackets, are distinctive and difficult to confuse with other types of insects.
By familiarizing yourself with the most common types of wasps, you can begin to formulate a plan of attack and treatment. In North America, you’ll most likely encounter:
- Paper Wasps
- Mud Daubers
- Yellow Jackets
Hornets are very similar in coloration and shape, but they tend to be far larger. Additionally, hornets don’t exhibit thin, tapered waists or abdomens as wasps do. The same is true of other commonly confused flying insects, such as bees.
If you’re not sure what type of wasp you’re dealing with, you may want to contact a professional pest control company for assistance. A pest control technician can help you determine the exact type of insect infestation you’re facing.
Signs of Wasp Infestations
It can be tricky to identify the type of wasp you’re confronting. Wasps can react aggressively when they encounter curious humans near their nests.
To keep yourself safe from stings or bites, you could also attempt to identify the signs of an infestation. Each species of wasp leaves unique markers or debris.
Learning the differences between these habits can help you determine the type of species you’re experiencing. As such, it’s crucial to explore each major species and its most common eating, mating, and nesting habits.
Paper Wasp
Paper wasps, often called umbrella wasps, can grow to almost an inch in length. They get their name from the type of nests they build, which are often constructed of a dull gray, paper-like material. They tend to be brown and slightly yellow.
Still, there are almost two dozen different types of paper wasp subspecies in North America. Consequently, the easiest way to identify this particular type of wasp is by locating its nest. Paper wasp nests are constructed in a very distinct way.
Firstly, paper wasps will construct anchoring cells or honeycomb-like structures. They will then build onto these structures until their nest has reached a terminal size.
At this point, they will cover most of the cells with a protective layer, resulting in a cotton-candy like exterior. The so-called paper that makes up a paper wasp nest is actually chewed and partially digested plant fibers.
Paper wasps have powerful jaws. They use their mandibles to munch on wood and plants, forming a sticky, strong adhesive and building material. They then locate their nest site and regurgitate this pulpy stuff, using it to construct cells or coverings.
This type of wasp can sting to protect its nest. It may also bite when threatened.
Mud Dauber
Mud daubers can be a little bit more challenging to identify. This is because they live beneath the ground. These wasps resemble ants more closely than they resemble chubby little honeybees. They have one of the smallest and most segmented waists.
These industrious wasps tend to build their homes from bits of rolled mud or soil. They can dig and form burrows beneath homes or within cracked walls and roofing.
But mud daubers can also snatch-up tiny balls of dirt, fly up into a safe area, and paste the mud to a wall. As such, you could potentially find a mud dauber nest in the corner of an entrance threshold or in a forgotten gap in exterior siding.
This species of wasp of one of the least aggressive. While a significant infestation could cause some structural damage, mud daubers are unlikely to sting or bite humans unless directly threatened.
Yellow Jacket
Yellow jacket wasps are perhaps the easiest to identify. They’re bright yellow and deep black, giving them a threatening appearance. These wasps can build their nests in trees, alongside houses, or underground.
Their adaptive nature and high level of aggressiveness make them one of the most dangerous and potentially damaging species of wasp. Yellow jacket nests often resemble paper wasps nests, but the design is slightly different.
Yellow jacket nests tend to have a rolled appearance. They may have a single entrance and exit located at the bottom portion of the nest. Paper wasp nests tend to be a little looser and have larger openings along the sides of the nests.
The reason why this type of wasp is so well-known is that it happens to be one of the most widespread and potentially lethal flying insects in the United States. A honeybee may sting you once, causing an immediate allergic reaction.
But a yellow jacket can sting you many times and may only stop once killed. Additionally, yellow jackets can work as a team and form a swarm. Anyone caught in such a swarm may find it impossible to avoid being stung multiple times.
Yellow jacket venom is poisonous, even in small doses. Individuals who receive multiple stings may require immediate hospitalization.
Is Wasp Nest Removal Necessary?
In many cases, it is crucial to remove wasp nests as soon as you’ve identified them. Many common species of wasp can pose a threat to human life and habitation, making them notable pests that require immediate attention.
Though you may not feel particularly threatened by a paper wasp nest located on the far end of your property, the inhabitants of that nest can easily migrate to your home within a matter of weeks or months.
Fortunately, the cost associated with wasp extermination and remediation is often affordable. Taking action earlier rather than later can help you reduce potential costs and keep infestations small, manageable, and easy to treat.
How Much Does Wasp Extermination Cost?
Wasp nest removal costs an average of about $375. However, some homeowners may be able to secure a wasp removal service for as little as $200. Still, others could expect to spend several hundred dollars more to remediate their property.
The final cost of wasp removal and extermination depends on a few influential factors. Understanding these factors might help you prepare for and finance nest removal for your property.
Factors to Consider
There are a few factors that could influence the final cost of a wasp extermination service. Keeping these factors in mind may help you to anticipate a more accurate cost that reflects your specific property size and infestation.
Some of the most essential factors that homeowners will need to consider before agreeing to a wasp control service include:
- The size of the area that requires treatment
- The number of nests on the property
- The extent of wasp-inflicted damage
Smaller homes or properties may be easier to treat, resulting in a lower overall cost. Additionally, burgeoning infestations that are caught early-on are often less expensive than massive, long-term infestations.
Some exterminators may also charge additional fees when working with or around damaged construction. If you’ve had wasps in your home for several months or years, there may be a reasonable amount of structural damage that needs repair.
Residential pricing for pest control services does vary from company to company. Still, contacting a residential pest control specialist today could help you lower costs and keep you and your household safe.
Hire a Wasp Exterminator Today
If you’re encountering wasps around your home, you’ll want to identify the species right away. By paying attention to wasp coloration, size, and habits, you can begin to speculate on the species that are causing you trouble.
A professional pest control technician will also be able to help you identify the type of wasp threatening your home and household. Typically, the costs associated with such a specialist are affordable. Hiring a wasp exterminator is a budget-friendly option.
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