What to Know About Summertime Wasps
Here in Santa Fe, summertime is meant to be spent outdoors! From backyard barbecues to hikes at your state park, everyone likes to spend time outside this time of year. Unfortunately, with the summer months comes a rise in wasp populations. There are three summertime wasps that tend to be most prevalent in the coming months: paper wasps, mud daubers, and of course, yellow jackets. If you see signs of stinging insect activity or nests built near your home or business, it’s important to stay away. Keep reading for facts on these summertime wasps from the experts at New Mexico Pest Control.
Three Wasps You May Encounter This Summer
There are over 4,000 wasp species in the United States, but three in particular are common to our area in the summertime. The three summertime wasps to know of include:
- Paper Wasps. These wasps are known for the papery nests they build, which look like upside-down umbrellas. These nests often hang from tree branches and twigs, as well as porch ceilings and door railings. They typically contain up to 30 wasps. Paper wasps aren’t as aggressive as yellow jackets, but they may sting to defend their nests. Their sting is known to be especially potent.
- Mud Daubers. As their name suggests, mud daubers build their nests from mud. They are mostly black in appearance but may have light-colored markings. The most characteristic feature of the mud dauber is their thin, thread-like waist. Nests are usually located in covered areas such as porch ceilings, sheds, and attics. These wasps are less social than other types, often preferring to be solitary. Mud daubers aren’t as aggressive and will only sting when directly handled.
- Yellow Jackets. During the summertime, yellow jackets are infamous for being aggressive. Yellow jackets congregate in colonies of up to or more than 1,000 workers. Their nests can be a ticking time bomb if anyone tries to knock it down without a professional pest control company. Yellow jackets will not bother you unless they feel threatened, in which case they may sting repeatedly.
How to Prevent Summertime Wasps
In order to prevent being stung by wasps, it’s important to know how to inspect your property for nests. Regularly look under porches, decks, ceilings, and the sides of your home or business to look for nests in the summer. If you do see one, contact the team at New Mexico Pest Control for safe wasp removal. To avoid summertime wasps on your property, avoid leaving food or drinks outdoors, seal your garbage cans securely, and install screens on your windows and doors. Never swat at wasps to avoid making them more aggressive and likely to sting.
Professional Wasp Removal Services
It can be difficult to identify summertime wasps, which is why it’s best to leave it up to the professionals. A wasp nest on your home or business can be very dangerous, and always needs to be handled by a professional pest control company. Our wasp removal specialists know how to get rid of your stinging insect problem quickly and safely.
