YEAR-ROUND STRATEGIES FOR
WASP PREVENTION IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Do you know that most of the time, wasps don't want to sting you? If you're in your garden or tending to your landscaping and a wasp buzzes by, you probably don't have anything to worry about. If you don't make any quick movements to provoke it, a wasp will continue on with its business and pay no attention to you. In fact, it is possible to stand in the middle of a thousand yellow jackets and not get stung. Some beekeepers have done it to prove that wasps are not aggressive insects. But a beekeeper will be quick to inform you that wasps can be very aggressive when you get near their nest. This is because many wasps are social insects that have a nest-protection instinct. So, the best way to reduce your chances of being stung in your yard is to make sure those wasps don't create a nest in your yard. This is where we'll be starting with our year-round wasp prevention tips.  

Spring 

Wasps are most likely to create a nest in your yard during the spring. So springtime wasp control is centered on the detection of wasp nests. If you're inclined to do inspections yourself, we have some suggestions for where you are likely to find nests being established.

• Many species of wasp will make aerial nests. These nests may be found under the overhang of a man-made structure, under the branch of a tree, or stuck to the side of a tree or structure.
• Many species of wasp will create nests in bushes, shrubs, and other vegetation found in landscaping. You'll need to look closely because these grey nests can be tucked into dense branches and leaves.
• Many species of wasp will create nests in ground holes, especially holes created at the base of trees. If you have holes in your yard, they should be filled in to prevent wasp habitation.
• Almost all wasps will take advantage of entry points in the side of a home to get into wall voids and create a nest. Be sure to do an inspection of your exterior and patch or fill any holes you find.

Summer

During the summer, most of the wasp nests that are going to be created are already created. This time of year, prevention should be focused on reducing wasps' visitations and reducing factors that can get you stung.

• Keep trash in sealed containers and routinely wash your trash containers to prevent smells that can lure wasps in. Most wasps can find a meal in your trash.
• If you like to have cookouts in your backyard, keep food in sealed containers until you're ready to cook it, and dispose of organic waste in a trash bag that is pinched or twisted at the top to seal it.
• Wasps eat bugs. The more bugs you have on your property, the more wasps you're likely to have. There are many ways to reduce bug populations. We highly recommend moisture control as a reliable pest-management method for bugs.
• If you come into close proximity of a wasp, simply move away at a steady pace without swinging your arms. A wasp that is away from its nest will not sting you.
• When you sit down or pick an object up in your backyard, be on the lookout for a wasp. Compressing a wasp and trapping it can quickly result in a sting.

Fall

Most wasps do not survive the winter. The ones that do are mostly fertilized females that will become the queen of new nests in the spring. These future queens are likely to try to get into your home. Fall prevention should include an inspection of all your door and window screens. If you have any holes, repair them or replace them to keep wasps and other overwintering pests out.

All Year

In every season, remember that Aiken Pest Control can help you reduce and control bugs and the wasps that eat them. Our service professionals can check your yard for nests in the spring and remove nests before they can become a problem. During the summer, your technician will make sure your yard gets appropriate treatments to eliminate pest populations around your foundation perimeter. 

And in the fall, you'll get appropriate treatments to prevent overwintering pests from using your home as their winter home. Reach out to us today to learn more or to establish a service for your South Carolina home.