Stinging insects can be a very big nuisance. One of the worst stinging insects around homes can be wasps. These insects can sting you and leave a painful wound. Keeping them away from your loved ones and yourself is important, especially if someone has an allergy to insect stings.
Contacting a good Tulsa pest control company can help if you’re having a problem with any pests. Let’s take a look at wasps and how they operate.
How Solitary Wasps Hunt
Some wasps don’t just use their stingers to protect themselves; they also use them to hunt. For example, a female solitary wasp may build her nest and then search for small spiders or other prey. She can paralyze prey with her sting, carry it back to her nest, place it inside a cell with an egg, and seal the cell. By doing this, she provides food for the young when they hatch. The larva feeds on the stored prey and develops before emerging as an adult. Not all wasps hunt this way: social wasps such as paper wasps raise their young cooperatively.
Why Nest Location Matters
Some wasps will protect their nests vigorously. That’s why it’s important to keep nests away from you and your loved ones. If they begin to build a nest near an entry point or a play area, contact a Tulsa pest control company to assess whether removal or treatment is needed.
Wasps can build nests in several places around your property. Some prefer protected areas such as underneath roof overhangs, inside sheds, or beneath porch ceilings. Others may build nests underground or inside wall voids. Pay attention to wasps repeatedly flying in and out of the same location, because a nest may be nearby.
If you discover a nest, avoid disturbing it. Spraying it with a garden hose or attempting to knock it down can cause defensive species to sting. A professional can identify the wasps and determine the safest way to address the problem.
Wasps Are Also Part of the Ecosystem
In addition to hunting, many adult wasps feed on nectar. As they move from flower to flower, some carry pollen and help pollinate plants. Wasps also help control other insects. This is an important part of our ecosystem, and we need to maintain it.
That’s why dealing with nests near high-traffic areas is important, but leaving nests alone when they aren’t bothering anyone can also be important. We need beneficial wasps to continue their work.
Reducing Wasp Activity Around Your Property
There are several things homeowners can do to make their properties less attractive to wasps. Keep garbage cans tightly closed, clean up spilled food and drinks, and remove fallen fruit to reduce food sources that attract certain species.
Remember that not every wasp needs to be eliminated. Many solitary wasps are beneficial hunters that help control spiders and caterpillars. If their nests are away from areas where people regularly gather, leaving them undisturbed is often the best option. For additional information, see Oklahoma State University Extension and the EPA’s safe pest control guidance.
Call TermMax Pest Control
If you think you’re having a problem with wasps or any other stinging insects, call a Tulsa pest control company today. Contact TermMax Pest Control for help, and we’ll work to get you on the right track as soon as possible.
