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Wasps are one of the nastiest pests out there, so if you have a wasps nest nearby you’ll want to get the pest control professionals in as soon as possible to come and get rid of it. Most people are frightened of wasps, and with good reason, but some try to perform their own wasp removal service anyway. This is a bad idea as pest control experts are the only ones fully trained in wasp removal, and are the only ones with the proper equipment to do it effectively and safely. Wasp nest removal should only ever be done by a skilled professional.
Wasp Nest Removal – When to call the Wasp Specialist
Wasps hibernate over the winter period usually only the Queen will survive and lay her eggs. Other wasps can be very aggressive during the winter months, with the cold season they can take shelter in your home, in attics, under floor boards especially places which are dry and hold the heat. Sprays will kill wasps but seldom solve the problem. The way wasp removal that is carried out is not actually to destroy the nest. In fact, as wasps very rarely re-use their nest, it can be left where it is.
Instead, a special powder is either injected into the nest, or left at the entrance, so that as the wasps come and go they pick it up on their feet. This powder kills the wasps, and as they all have to come back to or leave the nest, it ensures that it gets all of them. This is the safest and most effective wasp removal technique, and can only be carried out by pest control professionals because you have to be qualified to get access to the material necessary to do this. The process is quick, and always effective, meaning that it won’t be long before your nightmare with wasps is over.
To arrange for wasp nest removal, simply call a team member on:
(086) 233 7727 or email us on info@effectivepestcontrol.ie or fill out our Request a Call Back Form above.
Managing wasp infestation in one’s property requires an in-depth understanding of what wasps are as pests. It also includes appreciating the insect’s unique behavior, especially when it comes to making and defending their nest. It will help to provide a working knowledge of the best methods for wasp removal and reasons you need the services of a professional wasp nest removal service.
What Are Wasps?
Wasps are a very diverse group of insects that bear close resemblance to bees. Without their wings, wasps can look like large ants, too. The main difference between bees and wasps is the presence of a narrow waist between the first and second segments of the wasp’s abdomen. Most wasps also have the yellow and black coloration on their body.
There are more than 100,000 different species of wasps all over the world. Entomologists say that there could be thousands more wasp species that are not yet discovered or described. Hornets and Yellow Jackets are examples of wasps. Unfortunately, most people tend to view hornets as distinctively different from wasps because of the former’s stouter appearance.
These insects are very useful to the environment. They can serve many functions to maintain a balance in the ecosystem. However, wasps become pests when they grow in sufficient numbers to disrupt the natural state of things. Many species of wasps also sting. Wasp stings can be fatal to people who have hypersensitivity to the wasp sting toxin.
Understanding Wasp Behavior
It is quite difficult to describe the behavior of each species of wasp. What we can do is to generalize their behavior by classifying them into two main groups of wasps.
- Social Wasps
Most social wasps belong to the Vespidae family. Examples of these are Hornets and Yellow Jackets. These wasps have very powerful stings. They also have conspicuous warning coloration that allows the wasps to defend themselves and their nest if they detect threats. Social wasps are eusocial. They have a queen that lays eggs. There are wasps that take care of the eggs and the hatchlings. Other wasps go out and perform other tasks for the nest.
While there is a social hierarchy in the wasp nest, such social divisions become irrelevant when the nest is under attack. There are studies that describe the colony defense behavior of social wasps. These insects defend their colony from threats at varying degrees of tenacity. Older wasps tend to defend their colony a lot more than do younger wasps. This behavior shows the shift in behavior from social hierarchy to one of temporal polyethism.
- Solitary Wasps
Solitary wasps outnumber social wasps. An example of this group is the Potter wasp. The female Potter will build its own nest, lays its eggs, and forages alone to feed its young. There are species of solitary wasps that build their nests alongside each other. However, each wasp will take care of its own nest. There are also solitary wasps that build communal nests. The difference here is that they do not observe a division of labor.
How Wasps Build Their Nest
Understanding how wasps build their nests includes an appreciation of their life cycle. All but fertile female wasps die during the winter. One of the remaining fertile wasps eventually becomes the queen of the next colony.
Throughout the winter, the fertile wasps hide in crevices and underneath tree barks. Wasps come out of their hiding place as soon as spring arrives. These fertile wasps go out and search for a place where they can build their nest. They work together to produce a suitable nest. The most dominant wasp becomes the queen, while the other females become the caretakers of the eggs and the hatchlings. Most of the remaining wasps perform worker roles.
To make their nest, worker wasps go out and forage for building materials, such as weathered wood. Worker wasps chew the wood fiber and turn it into a pulp with paste-like consistency. The insects then form hexagonal paper cells out of the pulp. Wasps only produce enough paper cells to accommodate their eggs during the initial stages of the nest-building process.
Wasp nests have the shape of an umbrella. These nests often hang in areas that are protected from the elements. You can see them in tree branches, railings, porches, eaves, and other similar structures. Hornets often build their nests with a paper pulp cover. Yellow Jackets, on the other hand, prefer to build their colonies underground.
The wasp nest typically lasts only a year. The insects build the nest during the spring and continue developing it well into the summer and autumn. As autumn ends, the wasps begin abandoning their nest. They will attempt to hide where they await their death. Only fertile wasps will have a chance to survive the winter and initiate the process of nest building all over again.
Key Takeaways in Wasp Behavior that can be Useful in Wasp nest removal
The behavior of wasps can tell us a lot of things, especially when it comes to wasp nest removal.
- Spring is the Best Time to Look for Beginning Signs of Wasp Nest Building
Wasps begin their nest-building activities right after winter. This is the best time for you to start looking for obvious signs of a wasp nest being built. You can start by looking in places where there is ample protection from the elements. These can include the underside of railings, lofts, eaves, and porches.
- Access to Weathered Wood is Crucial to Wasp Nest Building
Wasps need decaying or weathered wood as building materials for their nest. Reducing access to such materials can help reduce the chances of them building a nest on your property.
- Managing Wasp Infestation is Best when the Nest is Still Small
Effective wasp removal is best accomplished while the nest is still in its early stages of construction. Wasp nest growth is slow in the initial stages. As the colony grows, the number of worker wasps also grow. They can forage for food for the young wasps. As such, the smaller the nest is, the better are your chances of removing these pests from your property.
- Wasps have a Very Strong Colony Defense Behavior
Wasps will defend their nest the moment they sense a threat. This is the main reason why people are advised never to approach a wasp nest; let alone attempt to strike and destroy the nest. Unlike bees, wasps can sting multiple times. Larger wasps like the hornet can also pack more venom in their body.
- Wasps Leave their Nest
Wasps leave their nest in the last days of autumn. Most of them will die, having served their purpose. There is thus no need to destroy the nest unless it is unsightly. It is very rare for wasps to reuse abandoned nests in the future.
Why a Professional Wasp Nest Removal Company Is Necessary
There are many reasons why removing the wasp nest is best left to professionals. The following are the most important ones.
- Expertise in Dealing with Wasps
There are many species of wasps. Each one has a behavior that is unique to its species. Our professional wasp exterminators know the behavior and characteristics of each wasp species. They use this knowledge to determine the best possible method of eliminating these pests from your property. Our professionals are also knowledgeable about the identification of hypersensitivity and anaphylactic reactions to wasp stings.
- Trained and Certified
Effective Pest Control wasp exterminators get trained and certified in the different methods of managing wasp infestation. These methods must comply with strict laws and regulations related to the use of pesticides and other chemical agents. Our exterminators also must undergo certification to make sure that they comprehend the implications of wasp removal, such as habitat destruction. Legal issues may arise if rules and regulations are not followed.
- Different Locations
Wasps like to build their nests in hidden places. Some will nest in lofts, the attic, and even in animal burrows. Our professionals know where these pests tend to build their colonies. They can reach these places a lot more efficiently than ordinary people. For example, if the nest is in the attic, our exterminators can get up there, find the nest and remove or destroy it.
- Use of Professional Products
There are products that are specific to the management of wasps. Many of the professional-grade anti-wasp products are not available to ordinary consumers. We have access to these products that can improve the chances of getting rid of wasp nests for good.
- Use of Safety Equipment
Wasps sting and they can do so multiple times. They are also very ferocious and tenacious when it comes to defending their nest. That is why one must wear the right safety & equipment. Respiratory protective equipment is equally important as conventional personal protective equipment. Our wasp exterminators use only the best possible protection whenever they deal with wasp nests.
The key to effective removal of wasp nest is a good understanding of the characteristics and behavior of these pests. This paves the way to appreciating the value of employing the services of a professional removal company. Professionals have the correct mindset, skills and knowledge to address any form of wasp infestation in a home or business. You can trust Effective Pest Control to help with wasp control. Contact us today!