As much as you might love the hit Showtime series Yellow Jackets, you won't feel the same way when yellow jackets invade your home. It's bad enough to be wary when stepping outside to prevent from being stung. So you certainly don't want to worry about dealing with the same problems inside.
Believe it or not, yellow jackets can and do come inside. The problem is bigger in the winter and late fall when yellow jackets look for a secure place to avoid the cold weather. When the temperature starts rising, the queen may leave your walls to create a new nest. She can also create a new nest inside the walls or build one close by. At Newton Termite & Pest Control, we understand the hazards of yellow jackets, especially when they live inside your Bensalem home or business. See why and how it happens and how you can eliminate yellow jackets.
HOW DO YELLOW JACKETS GET INTO YOUR WALLS
Yellow jacket nests in the ground are hard to see. They often look like large holes and usually have clumps of dirt or piles of rocks by the entrance. Yellow jackets create a tunnel on the surface of the ground which they use to access the nest. It's easier to spot the nests found on walls and roofs. The nests are white or pale gray in color. This color comes from the paper the bugs break down into pulp for the nest.
The way they get into the walls depends on your home. A common way yellow jackets get inside is through the HVAC system. The same vents that keep your home cool and reduce humidity in the summer can serve as entry points for yellow jackets. All it takes is for the queen to get through the vent. She'll release pheromones to attract the workers and encourage them to build the nest.
Yellow jackets also get inside the walls through exterior cracks. A crack in a structure’s frame or basement allows the queen access. They also come inside through gaps and other damaged areas. Your drywall provides the paper they need to build a strong nest that is big enough to support the whole colony.
WHY DO YELLOW JACKETS BUILD NESTS IN WALLS
Yellow jackets come inside for the same reason you do. When the weather turns cold, you want to relax in the heat inside. The bugs follow a standard life cycle that runs from the spring through the fall. During the spring and summer, the queen builds a nest and lays eggs. While some of the eggs become workers and protect the nest, others forage for food they bring back to the queen and her babies.
The queen lays many eggs through the spring and summer. When the eggs hatch, new queens emerge. They leave the nest and go out to find new nests. Early in the life cycle, the queen may build a nest in a wall because she finds it offers more protection for her eggs and babies. A new queen might pick your home because it reminds her of the safety she had as a child.
It's not just inside the walls where you'll see the nests. They can be found around the eaves and gutters. If your home has any type of overhang, such as the roof to a deck, you might see a yellow jacket nest tucked into a corner. Yellow jackets prefer safe spaces that are dark and far away from any possible dangers.
HOW DANGEROUS ARE YELLOW JACKET NESTS
Some people assume yellow jackets are not dangerous nor are their nests. A simple nest can contain more yellow jackets than you expected. Spending any time around the nest increases the dangers you can experience.
First, you should know that yellow jackets are often quite territorial. Once they mark their territory, they look for ways to defend it. Getting too close to the nest can trigger the colony and lead to multiple workers coming after you. Yellow jackets have a stinger they use in attacks just as bees do. Every time they sting someone, they leave behind trace amounts of their venom.
While bees can only sting once because they lose their stinger, yellow jackets retain their stingers. Even if you spray them with water, use a chemical spray, or try to fight back, they can continue the attack. Many people develop a sensitivity to stings after a simple attack, which worsens the effects they have later.
Several things can happen after a sting, including wheezing, confusion, pain, redness around the wound, and swelling. Anyone stung who has a yellow jacket allergy or sensitivity may have a tight feeling in their chest, experience difficulty breathing, and feel dizzy. Always seek medical attention if you or someone you know has any of these symptoms after a yellow jacket attack.
SIGNS OF A YELLOW JACKET NEST IN THE WALL
Spotting yellow jacket nests outside is fairly easy. Even if you don't see the nest, you can usually follow the insects back to it. Finding one inside is not as easy. Though you may see yellow jackets hovering around your windows, you can usually hear them before you see them.
Yellow jackets are far from quiet. A scratching sound is common. When you hear this noise coming from inside the walls, it can indicate workers are scrapping against the walls as they come and go. At night, they produce a humming sound. Yellow jackets also make a noise that sounds like someone tapping or knocking against the wall.
Though it's rare to see yellow jackets inside your home, keep an eye out for them. They can gain entrance through one point and use another to explore your home. If you see a single yellow jacket, you usually don't need to worry. It's when you see multiple and notice they tend to stick around the same spot that you need to call us.
CAN YELLOW JACKETS IN WALLS CAUSE MORE DAMAGE
The biggest reason to take care of bees living in your walls is that they cause a lot of damage. As the hive grows, the bees produce so much honey that it can actually break through your walls and outlets. Yellow jackets do not cause the same issues because they don't make honey. However, they can bring honey and other food from the nests they invade. If too much of the substance builds up inside, the wall can collapse.
Another issue is that yellow jackets may use drywall and other construction materials for the nest. They remove a small amount of paper, chew it until it breaks down, and release the pulp produced. This pulp is what gives the nest its iconic color. Though yellow jackets may bring in paper they find outside, most of their nest comes from materials inside the walls. Not only do they break down your drywall, but they can also eat your insulation and damage the wall's timber frame.
WHY YOU SHOULDN’T USE DIY FOR YELLOW JACKET REMOVAL
Home or natural remedies for treating tallow jackets abound. One method suggests using smoke to get rid of yellow jackets. This remedy claims you can make a hole in the wall, create a small fire, and push the smoke from the fire through the hole. The smoke confuses the yellow jackets and causes them to leave. Smoke may work with wasps and bees, but it doesn't do much for yellow jackets. Once the smoke clears, don't be surprised if they return.
Distilled white vinegar and dish soap are other ways to rumored to remove yellow jackets. Some sites claim you spray a diluted mixture of either one to kill yellow jackets on the spot. Unfortunately, this usually proves to simply anger the yellow jackets instead of getting rid of them. Angry yellow jackets are more likely to sting and attack.
Such methods can lead to property damage, injury and typically fail to remove the wasps.
CONTACT AN EXTERMINATOR FOR YELLOW JACKETS
Yellow jacket issues should be dealt with as soon as possible. Don't put the structure of your home or your family's safety on the line. Newton Termite & Pest Control is the go-to exterminator for yellow jackets living in your yard, walls, or anywhere else around and near your Bensalem home or business. Call today for a free inspection and find out if the noises you hear are signs of a yellow jacket infestation in your walls.
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 treatment methods available. By combining these measures, we ensure that your home or business remains free of wasps and hornets.
