What To Do About Wasp Nests On Your Jacksonville Property
May 26, 2021
The colder months of winter have passed, and creatures that prefer warmer weather, such as ants, bees, and wasps, begin establishing their homes around properties. Here in Jacksonville, however, things are a bit different. Due to our higher year-round temperatures, pests like wasps are allowed to survive and thrive through every season, including winter. This means no matter what time of year it is; there is always a chance you will find these pests nesting around your property. What do you do about these nests? Here are some great places to start.
Types Of Wasps Around Jacksonville
The term “wasp” is used to categorize a large group of stinging insects that live around the world. We have bald-faced hornets, European hornets, mud daubers, yellowjackets, mason wasps, paper wasps, and many more here in Jacksonville. Some wasp species are solitary creatures and build small nests to house themselves and their young, while others are social and live in ever-growing hives. These hives are typically made out of chewed-up cellulose gathered from paper, cardboard, and other wood-based items.
Where Wasps Build Their Nests
Wasps build their nests in a variety of locations around properties. Yellowjackets build tiered or circular nests connected to trees or the side of buildings. Mud daubers build cylindrical, 1”-wide mud tubes on vertical surfaces. Some species of wasps, including paper wasps, cicada killers, and yellowjackets, occasionally make their nests underground inside empty holes. This is especially concerning, as all it takes is one wrong step to enact the wrath of an entire colony.
Are Wasps Dangerous?
Wasps, unlike honey bees, can sting multiple times without harming themselves. Although the venom they release is lessened with each additional sting, this still poses a serious concern for human health. This poses an even more significant problem for individuals who are allergic to insect venom. It takes around 1000 stings to kill an adult; it only takes one to send someone allergic to life-threatening anaphylactic shock. To better understand your risk, consult your doctor.
Things That Attract Wasps To Properties
Wasps love properties that offer them food. More specifically, wasps love anything that contains proteins or sugars. Some common culprits for wasp attractants include pet food, dropped fruits and berries, leftovers from cookouts, opened containers of sugary drinks, and budding plants. If your yard or one of your neighbors’ yards has a plentiful abundance of snacks wasps can easily access, expect these pests to build their nests somewhere nearby.
5 Great Prevention Tips For Wasps
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Keep your yard clean of dropped fruit, berries, and leftovers from cookouts.
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Avoid feeding your pets outdoors.
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Knock down nests if they are smaller than a golfball.
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Consider removing flowers and budding plants from your property.
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Invest in tight-fitting lids for all of your outdoor trash cans.
What To Do About Wasps On Your Property
If wasps are getting out of hand on your property, then count on the professionals at Lindsey Pest Services to help. We equip our highly trained technicians with the safety equipment needed to eliminate wasp nests of all sizes effectively.
With over 60 years of pest control experience and programs starting as low as 45$ a month, you should have no trouble finding a great solution to any pest problems you face on your Jacksonville property. Contact us today for more information about our services and schedule an emergency wasp control visit for your property.
