What To Do About Wasp Infestations In The Bay Area

When you notice wasps on your property, how concerned should you be? It depends on what wasps you're seeing. Some wasps are worse than others. The two that create the most trouble in the Bay Area are the paper wasp and yellow jacket wasp. Let's take a look at these two Bay Area wasps, discuss the dangers, and consider the best way to get rid of wasps.

What Do Wasps In The Bay Area Look Like?

Wasps come in many shapes and sizes. How can you tell if a paper wasp or yellow jacket wasp in your yard? Let's start with yellow jackets. These are tiny wasps that can be difficult to see as they move through your landscaping at the base of plants and near the ground. If you get stung by one of these wasps, it will have you looking around and wondering if someone threw a small rock at you.

If you get a look at a little yellow jacket, you'll notice that it is fat at the waist and a mixture of black and yellow coloration. Paper wasps are larger. You're likely to see these wasps in the air. A paper wasp can be black and yellow like a little yellow jacket, but its larger size and thin waist will help you tell it apart. Red paper wasps are a rusty brown coloration with some yellow. These are more commonly recognized as paper wasps because there are no rusty brown-yellow jackets or hornets.

How Dangerous Are Wasps In The Bay Area?

In most cases, a wasp sting will just cause intense localize pain. In rare cases, an allergic reaction can occur and this has the potential to be life-threatening. The greater concern with wasps is the threat of social wasps, like paper wasps and yellow jackets. These wasps have a strong nest protection instinct and will gather in a swarm to attack. Yellow jackets have been observed giving chase for over a mile. They can be very bad to tangle with. Getting rid of yellow jackets should be a top priority.

Natural Wasp Prevention Tips For Bay Area Properties

Long before you have to invest in a wasp removal service in the Bay Area, there are ways you can prevent an infestation of wasps on your property. Some of these might surprise you:

• Address weed problems, particularly weeds that have tiny flowers. If flowering weeds take over your landscaping or your lawn, you're sure to have trouble with wasps. 

• Keep your garbage sealed in covered receptacles. Wasps can get into your garbage looking for sources of protein and sugar.

• Do routine inspections of your property and locate starter nests. Paper wasps create aerial nests on the sides of structures. These small, unoccupied nests can be swept away with a broom. Just make sure the queen isn't around.

• Fill in ground holes. While yellow jackets create ground nests, they aren't burrowing insects. You can significantly deter these wasps by removing ground holes as harborage options. Some residents have even had success getting rid of yellow jackets by filling in holes—though we wouldn't recommend doing this. You're not going to bury all of those painful pests, and you could get stung. When filling holes for wasp prevention, check holes carefully before pouring dirt into them, just in case yellow jackets have already moved in.

• Seal gaps, cracks, and holes in your exterior. This will remove another harborage option for yellow jackets.

• Don't leave drink cups or soda bottles out on your deck or porch. Wasps can drink sugar water.

The Safest Form Of Wasp Control In The Bay Area

If you have a wasp nest on your property and need a wasp removal service in the Bay Area, it is best to contact Bay Pest Solution to have the nest removed. Our technicians are highly-trained and experienced professionals. We'll make sure everything is done according to best practices in the industry. But, while Bay Pest Solution is the best way to get rid of wasps, we hope you'll decide to reach out to us before you see a nest on your property.

Wasp problems can sneak up on you and surprise you when you least expect it. When you invest in ongoing pest control for your Bay Area home, you get routine pest control inspections and immediate removal of any nests found. You won't have to wonder if wasps are going to attack you while you're mowing your lawn, hanging out by the pool, or enjoying a cookout with your family. You'll always be protected.

Are you in the Bay Area? Reach out to Bay Pest Solution today to learn more about year-round pest control and wasp prevention. Life has enough unexpected surprises. Let us help you take wasps off the list.