A swarm of wasps can quickly ruin your late-summer backyard barbeque. These buzzing insects can fall into your drinks, land on your food and buzz around your head. More than just nuisances, they can be quite dangerous. Dozens of people die each year from allergic reactions to wasp stings. Here are a few tips for controlling wasps in your house and yard.
- Use wasp traps
Wasp traps are specially designed to attract wasps using sweet liquid. The wasps enter the trap, and once inside, they can’t get out and eventually drown. You can find this type of trap at your local pest control retailer. You can also make your own wasp trap by cutting the top-third off a plastic beverage bottle. Combine a small amount of soda or fruit juice with a drop of liquid dish soap. Then, invert the top-third of the bottle and place it inside to create a funnel. Make sure to hang wasp traps away from places where you eat or relax.
- Treat wasp nests
You can purchase several wasp control products from pest control retailers. The best time to treat a wasp nest is at night when the queen and workers are inside. Make sure you wear protective clothing and use a product that allows you to spray from a distance. You can also make homemade insecticide with dish soap and water. This solution clogs the wasps’ breathing pores. You may have to spray a wasp nest a few times before you can knock it down and remove it.
- Eliminate wasp food sources
Wasps love protein-rich, sugary foods. Therefore, keep your barbeque clean and remove fallen fruit from your yard. Don’t leave food, sugary drinks or pet food outside. Moreover, ensure your compost pile and garbage bins are sealed and hang hummingbird feeders away from outdoor living spaces. Furthermore, ensure there aren’t any cracks, crevices or holes in your home’s windows, chimneys, doors and other unnecessary holes. Wasps can enter your home through tiny openings. Additionally, plants such as pennyroyal, marigold, wormwood, mint, basil, and geranium repel wasps.
- Call a professional exterminator
If you’re uncomfortable removing wasps yourself or are allergic to wasp stings, it may be best to call a professional residential extermination service. A professional exterminator will also ensure the wasps don’t return.
Wasp and insect control in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba
At Poulin’s Pest Control, we can help you rid your home and yard of wasps and other flying insects. We also offer effective pest control products you can take home. Contact us at one of our seven locations in Western Canada to schedule an appointment with a technician for your pest control problems.