How to Get Rid of Wasps and Yellow Jackets

So, you have an infestation of wasps or yellow jackets, and you’re wondering how to get rid of them. Before we delve into that answer, first let’s discuss the difference between these stinging pests.

Wasps and yellow jackets – and even hornets – are considered social wasps. Each year, they produce colonies, with only the malted queen surviving through the winter. This, however, is where the similarities end, as wasps and yellow jackets differ in size, color, and where they build their nests.

Chances are, if you’ve seen something buzzing around your yard or house and it looks like a wasp, you don’t care if it is actually a yellow jacket or a hornet; you just want to know how to get rid of it. However, knowing the characteristics of each will help you get to the root of your problem.

To know how to get rid of wasps and yellow jackets, you first need to know how to tell them apart:

• Appearance: Wasps have slender, segmented bodies with thin waists and orange-tipped antennae, while yellow jackets have shorter and thicker bodies, with black antennae.
• In flight: Wasps dangle their long legs when they fly, while yellow jackets tuck their legs under their bodies when they fly.
• Nests: Wasp nests resemble an open honeycomb or upside-down umbrella. They often build their nests on man-made structures such as eaves or lawn furniture. Yellow jacket nests have a single opening that is often hard to see because the nest is underground. Some species of yellow jackets will construct nests in wall voids or exposed under eaves of houses.
• Behavior: Wasps feed on damaged fruits and can be found on flowers looking for nectar. Yellow jackets are picnic pests; they’re drawn to protein sources, such as grilled meat. They also go after sweet liquids, such as soda and juice.
• Aggression: Wasps are generally docile and avoid humans; they usually will sting if the nest is disturbed and can sting repeatedly. Yellow jackets are more aggressive than wasps. They defend their nests but will also sting unprovoked. They are prone to swarm attacks if their nest is threatened.

Wasps and yellow jackets can be found any place where humans live. While it is relatively easy to spot a wasp nest, it’s more difficult to see a yellow jacket nest. Yellow jackets construct their nests from wood fiber chewed into a fine, paper-like pulp, and their entrances are typically the size of a nickel.

If you frequently have wasp or yellow jacket nests in your yard, and your wondering how to get rid of them, then it’s probably because you have some of their favorite things, including:

1. Ceilings and overhangs: This is where wasps prefer to build nests. They often choose a corner spot where their nest will be protected.
2. Weathered wood: Wasps and yellow jackets prefer to build their nests out of regurgitated wood fiber.
3. Other pests: Wasps and yellow jackets eat other pests. So, if these stinging insects are setting up camp in your yard, it probably means you have plenty of other insects, too.
4. Indoor shelter: Wasps, in particular, like to build their nests near accessible indoor shelter, so their queens have a place to shelter in winter. If your home has cracks or holes where wasps can get inside, then your yard may be their go-to nest building spot.

Preventative measures can be taken to keep wasps and yellow jackets from invading your home, including:

• Keeping foods, including pet food, covered or indoors,
• Covering soda cans outdoors so wasps and yellow jackets don’t crawl in,
• Keeping garbage in sealed cans and emptied regularly, and
• Picking up and disposing of ripe fruit.

Because wasps often nest in hard-to-reach areas, the easy answer to how to get rids of wasps and yellow jackets is to call Eco Pest Control. Our trained technicians use prescribed treatments in local areas and remove nests in hard-to-reach places. This treatment does not require any additional preparations on your part.

Partnering with an experienced, local pest control and treatment company is how get rid of wasps and yellow jackets safely. At Eco Pest Control, we’re a family-owned and locally operated company that has more than 15 years of experience keeping properties in the greater Richmond, Newport News, and Williamsburg areas, free of pests, including wasps and yellow jackets.

Our registered and certified professionals provide highly effective pest control and treatment services that work to control wasp and yellow jacket populations and minimize their chance of return. For residential and commercial property owners who are interested in learning more about our company’s exceptional, 100% guaranteed solutions or would like to request an inspection, contact Eco Pest Control today.