Wasps can pose a dangerous threat to some people, but aside from that, they are pretty annoying. They build nests in your house walls, within the ceiling of your porch, and in your shed. Their sting is uncomfortable, and a swarm of them can cause some damage. But, don’t worry; there are effective ways to get them out! That is, mainly to call pest control professionals.
Whatever you do, be sure you aren’t disturbing a hive of honey bees; we really need them.
How to tell if wasps are in your walls?
Wasps prefer a high-up location, so you’ll find wasp nests higher up in the wall. Your best course of action is to call a pest management professional to check your walls for wasps or a nest inside.
Many homeowners notice that wasp nests are most commonly found between wall voids, porch roofs, and around sheds. However, keep an eye out for an unnatural abundance of wasps (or yellow jackets, for that matter). Wasps might swarm in the area of the wasp nest because they have to feed their young and the queen.
Signs of wasp infestation
- You will see holes in your walls
- You will hear a crunching sound within the walls (wasps are chewing the wall, making the hole bigger to accommodate a growing wasp nest)
- You will see wasps crawling around the nest nearby
Why are wasps choosing my walls to live in?
They like to crawl into the wall void to start building their nest. Wasps build their nests in places with lots of nooks and crannies; anything to protect against the elements that also sit up high is ideal for wasps to build a nest. Roofed porches, pretty overhangs, and those nice accent eaves are perfect building places for a wasp nest. You also need to have an abundance of yard pests for the wasps to consume.
How dangerous are wasps?
Wasps sting is extremely painful. In addition, some people are allergic to wasp venom. In rare cases, an allergic reaction caused by multiple stings can result in anaphylactic shock and even death. Remember that, unlike bees, wasps can sting multiple times without dying.
Hornets can be very aggressive, too.
Wasp sting treatment
First, clean the wound and keep it clean and dry to prevent infection. Then, you can use a hold press to ease the inflammation and take an anti-inflammatory. It would be wise to avoid gluten and carb-heavy foods during this time, as the inflammation throughout your joints will slow the healing process. Some people swear by aloe vera to heal bee and wasp stings.
How do I get rid of wasps in my walls?
You have to get rid of the source, which is the nest itself. Wasp nest removal is no simple task, and you’re best to leave this to professional wasp control technicians.
Some people argue that the liquid wasp killer does the trick, while others argue that the liquid doesn’t penetrate deep enough to be effective.
I destroyed a wasp nest but there are still wasps; why?
There were likely scout wasps out and about, not at home when their home was destroyed. They will linger, but they won’t survive long without their queen and the protection of their nest.
I have lots of wasps around my home but I can’t find the nest; what do I do?
Easy: watch the wasps. Seriously, watch their flight pattern and you will see where they are going and they will lead you right to the wasp nest.
Frequently asked questions
Can wasps burrow through walls?
They probably won’t start the whole, but they will certainly start chewing around it in order to increase the radius of the circle.
What does a wasp nest sound like?
A mixture of buzzing and crackling, between the wasps around the nest and the ones inside chewing on the wall.
What attracts wasps?
An abundant food supply, an alcove, safety, you get the idea.
Conclusion
An abundance of scout wasps or wasp swarms is a sign of a possible wasp infestation, so it’s important to get ahead of the problem and kill the wasps at the source: the nest that holds their queen. Without their queen, the wasps won’t last longer than two weeks.
Be sure to remove the nest safely, preferably by calling a professional pest control service for wasp infestation removal.