While spending time outside in the Bay Area can be enjoyed through most of the year, one thing that can make being outdoors miserable is dealing with a wasp flying around. Wasps can be terrifying to encounter because they can sting and inject venom, and this makes them potentially dangerous, too. While people who are allergic to the venom are particularly at risk, many wasp species can sting over and over which makes them dangerous to even healthy adults.
While wasps aren’t good to have around your home or business, they do serve a purpose in the environment. Just like bees, they are pollinators, and they can also help control the numbers of smaller insect populations.
In order to identify wasps and tell them apart from similar species, such as bees, it’s important to look at two factors: shape and texture. Keep in mind that hornets are just a specific kind of wasp and belong to the wasp family, so they share these same characteristics.
Wasps have a long, narrow body shape whereas bees are much more round and bulbous. As far as texture, you can look for a sleek, hairless appearance when identifying wasps. Bees, on the other hand, are characteristically fuzzy.
Landscaping Tips To Deter Wasps
Because wasps can put you and others around you at risk, taking steps to prevent them is important. Wasps are drawn to an area for two main reasons: water and food sources. Therefore, you can reduce the likelihood that wasps will nest on your property by following these landscaping guidelines:
- Avoid plating too many flowering kinds of vegetation.
- Make sure not to overwater your yard.
- Remove standing water from your property and clear gutters so rainwater can drain.
- If you have pools, hot tubs, or other water features, ensure that they are kept clean and that the water is cycled.
- Consider planting cucumbers, basil, and mint to help deter wasps. While there is some debate on the effectiveness of plants as wasp deterrents, they can help somewhat.
- Regularly trim bushes, trees, and shrubs to reduce the places where wasps tend to nest. Also, keep your yard clear of organic debris and reduce clutter.
Four More Easy Wasp Prevention Tips
While the overall best way to keep wasps out of your Bay Area property is by addressing landscaping concerns, there are a few more steps you can take to make your yard less appealing to them. These are some general measures you should follow:
- Cover trash cans with lids and keep your yard free of garbage.
- Clean up any food or drink spills right away as the smell of sweet items can draw wasps in.
- Store pet food indoors and remove hummingbird feeders.
- Fill up any holes in the ground as some species, like mud daubers, will nest in the ground.
The Only Safe Way To Remove Nests
If you already have wasps on your property, it can be dangerous to try to remove them on your own. Even nests that appear to be inactive might not be and you’re most likely to be attacked when attempting to remove a nest.
Don’t put yourself at risk. Instead, let the experts at Bay Pest Solutions produce reliable, safe wasp removal services. Just give us a call to get started and to learn about our ongoing prevention plans.