How To Keep Wasps Away From Your Orange County Property

Summer is on the horizon, and we all know what that means: time spent outdoors enjoying a BBQ with friends and family. It also means wasps. Many people don’t think about the effects that their behavior has on what pests are attracted to their property. With time spent outdoors comes many opportunities for wasps in Orange County to have a free-for-all buffet on your property. These slim-waisted insects with six thin legs, wings, and antennae are typically brown to yellow in coloring.

It should also be noted that wasps are the social type, which means that they build extensive honeycomb-shaped nests. Their activity starts after winter when the queen constructs her nest. These nests are very frequently latched onto roof overhangs and in ceilings making them hard to spot and even harder to reach.

How Wasps Get Attracted To Your Yard

While wasps are often considered beneficial to your Orange County property because of the ecological impacts they provide (they aid in pollination by feeding on nectar and they work to maintain pest control by eating them and feeding them to their larvae), it is not advisable to allow wasp nests to grow and develop on your property because of the health threats they pose to humans.

Stings from wasps are extremely painful and may produce serious reactions to people who are allergic to venom. Here are a few key ways to keep your property safe from wasps:

• Seal up any cracks or openings in your home’s foundation and walls as wasps are primarily seeking their protection, so any of these types of spaces make for ideal locations for a wasp’s nest.

• Although wasps do not have the most discerning palate, they come out of hibernation seeking food and lots of it. If you have a host of other insects on your property (which are the main food source for wasps), you will want to try your best effort to control those populations as well. For Orange County homeowners with gardens or plentiful yards, you will want to be extra thorough.

• Any human food that’s been left out is very appealing to wasps. They’re particularly fond of anything sugary or protein-based. Store any leftovers securely and in a timely manner, be sure to dispose of excess food thoroughly, and make sure that your trash is concealed and stored to not entice any insects.

• If you have an at-home garden, the nectar and fragrance are both very attractive to wasps, so understand the proximity of your garden to your home and be on the lookout for wasps or nests they may have produced.

Ways To Reduce Wasp Populations On Your Property

Orange County homeowners should seek to avoid a wasp population around their home to no end. As previously mentioned, you do not want to get stung by a wasp. It is an unpleasant experience that can also pose a serious health risk.

To keep wasp populations low, consider these few tips that will make your property inhospitable:

• Wasps seek out gardens for nectar and pollen, and while it is known that they are sometimes helpful in these situations, you do not want a population to develop. Consider planting things like cucumber, marigold, geranium, and basil as a natural repellent.

• Make sure to not leave food or drinks opened and in easily accessed areas. Store leftovers in a secure and timely manner, making sure to clean up any spills thoroughly.

• Because wasps seek anything sugary or sweet, try to avoid wearing strong fragrances. Choose unscented products whenever possible.

• To strip away a wasp's hiding place, ensure that doors and windows are properly screened and that any cracks in your homes’ foundation are filled. This will cut off the wasps’ access to your indoors.

• When you are outside, always wear footwear, especially in particularly grassy places.

• Always keep garbage properly sealed and stored. Even if you have tossed the clean-up of a spill or your leftovers, a wasp can still find it if you have not stored them properly.

A wasp problem is not something that should be handled DIY style by an individual. Removing nests on your own can be incredibly dangerous. Fortunately, the professionals at Pacific Shore Pest Control can help. Reach out today for professional advice and assistance in making your property safe from wasps. We provide both home pest control and commercial pest management services.