Wasps, Hornets, And Yellow Jackets Can Construct Large, Dangerous Nests On Your Property

Wasps’ nests can grow to impressive size during late summer or autumn, before winter approaches in earnest. Paper wasps tend to be an extremely aggressive species of stinging insects and will sting with very little provocation if they sense danger approaching. Some paper wasps that survive the winter will begin to build their new nests on top of old ones, which gives the impression that they’re reusing old nesting locations.

Among the threatening species of flying wasps, there are two main types: social and solitary. Social wasps, such as yellow jackets, hornets, and paper wasps have larger populations than solitary wasps like mud daubers. Many species of wasp make their nests from wood fibers which produce a paper-like shell over time. There are a number of different building styles that tend to differ from species to species. For example, paper wasps tend to build open and exposed nests that look like upside-down umbrellas.

Yellow Jackets have slightly different styles of building nests and protecting themselves from harm. Their nests are covered with a papery sort of substance and are very frequently found within wall cavities or voids. These locations tend to provide excellent protection from the elements for the colonies that utilize them wisely.

When their nest is threatened, yellow jackets tend to be very aggressive as well and will attack their target in large numbers. Yellow jackets are particularly active in late summer, and statistics have proven that the number of yellow jacket stings seems to peak in late summer.

Bald faced hornets, another species of wasp, build nests that are covered in a papery shell, not unlike other wasp species. Like yellow jackets, bald faced hornets tend to build their nests in natural voids or cavities like hollow tree trunks or the hollows of walls.

Mud daubers, uniquely, build their nests from mud or clay, and they typically resemble small tubes or chutes. These strange and eye-catching nests are usually built in existing or natural cracks or crevices in masonry, stone, timber, and they’re also frequently found in the rafters of outdoor structures like the roof awnings of homes, sheds, or garages.

The best and easiest way to manage these pests on your property is to determine which particular species of wasp is causing problems. Some early warning signs of wasp infestations usually occur in spring when queen wasps build small nests in order to breed the first batch or generation of workers. These workers quickly develop into mature insects and take over nest building activities for the queen for the remainder of the active season. By mid-summer, wasp nests can attain worrying sizes, and can actually appear quite frightening as they emanate the steady, threatening hum of the workers going about their daily business.

If wasps or other pests have made unsightly appearances around your property, call Cantu Pest & Termite and schedule an appointment today with one of our friendly, experienced home pest control experts.