The Key To Keeping Wasps Away From Your Stafford Home

For homeowners living in and around Stafford, VA, the invasion of wasps can be problematic for several reasons. For one, wasps bring safety concerns for you and any pets that may live around a wasp’s nest. The good news is that a quality Stafford pest control company can provide the key to eliminating these stinging pests before they become out of hand on your property. 

What Do Wasps Look Like? 

There are 30,000 species of wasps worldwide, but you are likely to come across only a handful on your Stafford property. These different types of wasps include paper wasps, yellow jackets, and bald-faced hornets. Wasps have distinctive narrow waists, long bodies, wings, and stingers but can vary in appearance depending on the species. Paper wasps are typically brown with yellow markings, while yellow jackets have yellow-and-black striped bodies. Bald-faced hornets are aptly named as they are predominantly black with white faces. Wasps are generally 3/4 to 5/8 inch long. 

There are two main subsets of wasps: solitary and social. Solitary wasps do not form large colonies and often live in the ground, dining on small insects. Social wasps like paper wasps eat sweet food, plant nectars, tree sap, and insects to nourish their large colonies. You may find gray, umbrella-shaped nests hanging from eaves, porch ceilings, railings, decks, or tree and shrub branches. 

How Dangerous Are Wasps? 

Some types of wasps are more aggressive and dangerous than others. Mud daubers, for instance, very rarely sting humans. Paper wasps are also not particularly aggressive and usually only sting if you disturb them or their nest. Yellow jackets and bald-faced hornets, on the other hand, tend to be much more aggressive and may sting repeatedly.

Wasp stings are painful and can result in swelling and redness. For those allergic to wasp venom, wasp stings can be serious and potentially life-threatening. If you have been stung by a wasp and are experiencing severe symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.

Natural Wasp Prevention Tips 

Wasps can be a nuisance and are potentially dangerous. Fortunately, there are many natural ways to prevent wasps from taking over your property. Here is the shortlist for keeping wasps from building nests in your home or yard: 

• Do not leave food or open cans of sugary soda or juices outside that attract wasps. 
• Remove areas of standing water from your yard. 
• Fill in large empty holes around the house’s foundation or under decks. 
• Clear around the roof with a pressure washer to clean out areas where wasps can build a nest. 
• Avoid planting flowering plants close to your home’s exterior or near entrances. 
• Trim hedges and shrubs to thin out areas that may create an ideal setting for their nests.  
• Eliminate rotting tree stumps and large tree logs that are attractive spots for wasps to nest. 

Taking these wasp prevention measures before wasps target your yard or home can help avoid the need for wasp control. If wasps do make themselves at home on your property, a professional pest control service can help. 

The Safest Form Of Wasp Control 

The safest form of wasp removal is to work with a Stafford pest control company like Viewpoint Pest Management Solutions. Our family-owned business provides exceptional pest control services to the Stafford area. Your service specialist will listen to your concerns about these insects, inspect your property for wasps, and propose solutions to eliminate them.

Viewpoint Pest Management Solutions can safely and effectively get rid of wasps and their nests from your property, providing you with peace of mind. Contact us today for quality wasp control in Stafford.