Wasp Pest Control in Santa Ana, CA

Quick Facts About Wasps

Habits

Paper wasps are semi-social insects. Colonies contain three castes: workers, queens, and males. Fertilized queens, which appear similar to workers, lay dormant over winter in protected habitats such as cracks and crevices in structures or under tree bark. In the spring, they select a new site and begin to build a nest. Eggs are laid singly in cells and hatch into legless grub-like larvae that develop through several stages (instars) before pupating. In late summer, queens stop laying eggs, and the colony soon begins to decline. In the fall, mated female offspring of the queen seek overwintering sites. The remainder of the colony does not survive the winter.

Habitat

Nests are built from wood fiber collected from posts and occasionally from live plant stems, causing some plant damage. This fiber is chewed and formed into a single paper-like comb of hexagonal cells. Nests are oriented downward and are suspended by a single filament. Mature nests contain up to 200 cells. Paper wasps prey on insects such as caterpillars, flies, and beetle larvae, which they feed to their larvae. They actively forage during the day, and all colony members rest on the nest at night.

Threats

Nests commonly occur around the home underneath eaves, in or on structures, and plants. Wasps attack when the nest is disturbed, and each can sting repeatedly. Stings typically cause localized pain and swelling, but in sensitive individuals or when many stings occur, whole-body effects can be seen, including allergic reactions that may result in death.

Prevention

Wasps can be found on flowers, particularly on goldenrod in late fall. Paper wasp nests can be dislodged from eaves using sprays of high-pressure water from a good distance, taking precautions not to allow wasps to attack nearby people or pets. Wasps will eventually abandon the nest.

Wasp Control FAQs

How do you keep wasps away?

The best way to prevent wasps is to implement the proper exclusion strategies and remove any attractants like food and drinks. Removing debris, cleaning up trash, and covering holes in the ground are also some smart ways to help minimize the chances that wasps find a suitable place to establish a colony.

What is the best wasp deterrent?

Wasps have a great sense of smell and will avoid the scent of certain-smelling plants. Wormwood, spearmint, and thyme are all great dual-purpose plants that wasps hate and are also useful in the kitchen. These can be grown inside and around your home to help ward off wasp populations.

How do professionals get rid of wasps?

Neighborly wasp control professionals have an arsenal of treatment options to help them eliminate wasps. Our team will generally go in and apply a residual pesticide that will effectively poison wasps as they return to the colony. Once the colony has collapsed, the nest will be removed and destroyed. Ongoing monitoring with continued services will help ensure that wasps do not become a problem again in the future.

What kills wasps instantly?

There are several insecticides that are available that kill wasps on contact, but a solution of dish soap and water will also do the trick. Mixing 2 tbs of dish soap in a spray bottle will create a solution that will suffocate the wasps. The only issue here is that the spray bottle option may require you to get too close to the nest for comfort. This is not advised as wasps can be extremely dangerous in large numbers when they feel threatened.