People who live and work in Bensalem are likely to be bothered by wasps whenever they prepare or enjoy food in the outdoors. That is because wasps are drawn to many of the same foods that people eat. Unfortunately, these encounters between people and wasps frequently go wrong, resulting in multiple painful stings.
Of course, not all confrontations between people and wasps involve food. It is possible for wasps to be provoked to an attack when people are in the same area as the wasp’s nest. These pests are extremely territorial, and this is why it is never wise to allow wasps to build a nest on or within man-made structures.
With yellow jackets, cicada killers, and bald-faced hornets to deal with, people may have their hands full when it comes to controlling these pests. No concern may be caused by a wasp colony that lives in a forest or a field, but a nest that is in landscaping or attached to a building can be bad news. People and wasps are bound to interact in these circumstances, and the consequences are potentially lethal for people who receive many stings.
Wasps begin to be a problem each year in the spring. Some queens from the previous year are able to survive the winter, and they try to start a new nest as early in the year as the weather allows. The nest starts out small, and the queen typically is solitary until her first workers emerge soon after the nest is established. Controlling wasps is the easiest at this stage of development, but property owners are not always on the lookout at this time. Instead, they notice the problem later in the year when hundreds of workers are buzzing around.
Wasp control that involves a large, bustling colony is dangerous. Accordingly, it always makes sense to hire a pest management professional to get rid of the nest and take steps to ensure that the pests cannot get into the buildings on the property.
WHAT DO WASPS LOOK LIKE?
Yellow jacket wasps, honeybees and bumblebees have some characteristics in common. For instance, their most notable feature is their distinctive yellow-and-black striping. This is why so many people tend to confuse these three species for each other. Yellow jacket wasps are more slender than the other two species, and they can be larger, with many adults being a half inch or longer. These pests do not have hair on their bodies, which consist of a head, thorax and abdomen.
With their pale red wings, thorax and head, the cicada killer wasp has a distinctive appearance. However, most people notice this pest’s size before anything else. At lengths of approximately one-and-a-half inches, these insects look fearsome. Members of the species are mostly black, but they do have three stripes in yellow on their abdomens.
Bald-faced hornets are relatively easy to identify thanks to the bright white spots on their mostly black faces. Full-grown adults may be as much as three-quarters of an inch long.
WHERE DO WASPS LIVE?
Social yellow jacket wasps may live with several thousand colony mates. Each spring they forage for tiny bits of wood that are combined with saliva and chewed until a substance that is reminiscent of paper is formed. This paper will form the main part of the nest, which is hung from a tree or shrub or a man-made structure such as a lamp pole, utility pole or the eaves of a building. Because there are many species of yellow jacket wasps, it is possible to find that some sub-species prefer to nest in a burrow that was abandoned by a small mammal or a pile of yard debris.
Bald-faced hornets also are social insects that live in sizable colonies. The nests may constructed and hung in similar manners when compared to the habitat of the yellow jacket wasp.
The preferred habitat of the cicada killer wasp differs sharply. This solitary insect digs into loose, sandy, exposed soil to create numerous holes in which she can rest and lay her eggs. The cicadas that she kills will be taken back to these holes to feed her young. Any sparse section of grass or exposed soil may be vulnerable to nesting cicada killer wasps.
WHAT DO WASPS EAT?
Some people recognize wasps as beneficial species because they eat so many other insects. In fact, people may notice that they are not seeing as many other pests when wasps take up residence. Eating insects gives wasps the protein they need, but it does not satisfy all of their nutritional requirements.
That is because wasps also need a steady supply of sugar. Most of this is obtained from items such as plant nectar and fruit juice. In many colonies, the larvae secrete a sweet substance that may be used to supplement the adult wasps’ diets.
Contrary to the other wasp species, adult cicada killer wasps do not need protein. Accordingly, they eat only sweet things. Cicadas are captured solely for the benefit of cicada killer wasp larvae.
With protein and sugar being critical nutritional items for wasps, it is no surprise that these pests are so frequently seen eating meat, fruit, soda, desserts and a variety of baked items. Pet food will be targeted too.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY WASPS
People tend not to associate wasp infestations in Bensalem with property damage, but this is a mistake. Yellow jacket wasps and bald-faced hornets both strip away minuscule bits of wood from fences, decks, siding and other wooden structures to build their nests. This can severely damage already vulnerable wood. Property owners that ignore wasp problems for several years may find themselves dealing with extensive damage.
Individuals who are trying to maintain a beautiful lawn and garden may find their efforts thwarted by industrious cicada killer wasps that make holes and piles of dirt, sometimes smothering plants and grass.
ARE WASPS AGGRESSIVE?
When compared to honeybees and bumblebees, wasps tend to be highly aggressive. Gentle cicada killer wasps are the exception to this tendency.
The other species may behave aggressively when near their nests and at any time when they feel that people are interfering with them. Agitated wasps give off a pheromone that tells their colony mates to attack with them, resulting in potentially dozens of stings for an unfortunate victim. Exacerbating the problem is the wasp’s ability to sting several times.
DO WASPS CARRY DISEASE?
Most people do not get sick after being stung by a wasp, but some individuals are allergic and may experience swelling of the throat, dizziness, vomiting and hives. Medical intervention may be required to stop the reaction.
HOW TO DETECT WASPS
Signs of a wasp infestation include:
• A hole in the ground or a suspended nest is surrounded by buzzing insects • People regularly are “dive bombed” by aggressive insects • Several stinging incidents occur • People spot the beginnings of a new nest in the spring
HOW TO PREVENT WASPS
To help prevent wasp issues the following steps should be taken:
• Take action as soon as new nests are seen on or near man-made structures • Use weatherstripping, caulk and other materials to cover gaps and cracks in building exteriors • Keep doors and windows closed • When doors and windows are open, ensure that screens are in place • Keep trash cans clean • Use trash cans with tight-fitting lids • Maintain wood to ensure thick coatings of paint or stain
HOW TO TREAT FOR WASPS
Here at Newtown Termite & Pest Control, we use a multi-faceted approach for treating hornets and wasps that have become problematic for area homes and businesses. Our methodology involves making use of the most appropriate detection, prevention, and treatments methods available. By combining these measures, we ensure that your home or business remains free of wasps and hornets.
