DIY Control Tips For Wasps

If you’re still seeing yellow jackets and other wasps flying around balconies, decks, open-air porches, or stealing crumbs off your outdoor dining table, you’re not alone. Although stinging insects are active as early as spring, they hit hyperdrive if you will towards the end of the summer and into fall. With natural food sources dwindling, a desire for sweet-tasting morsels increasing, and the demands of caring for the nest lessening, workers become more of a pest for homeowners in Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and across the state.

Since they are more of a pest problem right now, it’s important to understand that not all wasps are created equal AND not all control methods are either. If you’re thinking about taking on yellow jackets in your backyard on your own or implementing a DIY solution for wasps on your property, we encourage you to pause for a moment and read the rest of this post.

Some wasps are more aggressive than others

During the summer months, wasps are usually only aggressive if there’s a direct threat to the colony. Otherwise, they’ll usually leave you alone if you leave them alone. Of course, if you’re reaching for your sweet tea at the same time they’re trying to sample it, there’s a good chance you’re going to find out how aggressive they are.

Just how aggressive they become really depends on the type of wasp. For instance, yellow jackets and other social wasps are more likely to attack than mud daubers and other solitary wasps. The bottom line is wasps in Colorado have the potential to be dangerous and really should be avoided as much as possible.

A word of warning when it comes to DIY wasp control

Now that we've established the aggressive nature of wasps, let's talk about DIY control. Our best DIY wasp control tip is... drum roll, please... skip the store and call in pros instead! If you’ve discovered a wasp nest in, on, or just too close to your home, we discourage the use of over-the-counter insect sprays to get rid of stinging insects. These products often fail to accomplish the job and could actually aggravate wasps, creating a dangerous situation.

What’s more, DIY products you purchase online or at the store have the potential to be toxic to humans and pets. Mixing improperly or not following label directions can have significant consequences.

What happens when you incite these aggressors

Unlike honey bees which can only sting once, wasps have the ability to sting multiple times. We remind you of this fact only because you might not be thinking about what happens after you spray or knock down a nest. In the seconds following whichever method you employ stinging insects are going to leave the nest like water leaves the tap. When that happens, the danger level will increase. You do not want stinging insects pursuing you across your yard or landing even one solid sting on your person.

If DIY wasp control isn’t the solution, what is?

The best way to resolve stinging insect problems AND preserve your health is to contact a pest control company that handles these pests. If you need help getting rid of yellow jackets, paper wasps, or other stinging insects, contact EnviroPest today.

How our Colorado pest control pros solve stinging insect problems

At EnviroPest, we take pest problems very seriously. We understand the risks to health and property and that’s why we offer effective pest control services in Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Loveland as well as throughout Northern Colorado. When you contact our locally operated pest control company, you can count on us to deliver results. For even greater protection against stinging insects and other common house-infesting pests, consider signing up for our year-round home pest control plan!

Colorado's Choice Smart Service 

Our Colorado's Choice Smart Service is the most comprehensive home pest control plan EnviroPest targets 30+ pests and includes four seasonal visits and 24/7 digital rodent monitoring. 

Pests covered under the Colorado's Choice Smart Service includes:

• Ants (Carpenter ants, odorous house ants, pavement ants, sugar ants)
• Beetles
• Centipedes
• Earwigs
• Mice
• Rats
• Spiders (House spiders, rock spiders, wolf spiders, black widow spiders)
• Wasps (Baldfaced hornets, paper wasps, yellow jackets)