What does a wasp sting look like? Do wasps pollinate? What are the types of wasps and hornets? Here's what Sacramento Region homeowners should know about wasps, how dangerous they are, how to naturally prevent wasps in your yard, and the safest way to combat wasps with pest control in the Sacramento region.

What Do Wasps Look Like?

Not all wasps look, act, or sting the same way, including the wasps in the Sacramento Region. Here are the different types of wasps you may encounter on your Sacramento Region property and how you can identify them:

  • Paper wasps: Growing up to an inch in length, paper wasps may be the most common type of wasp you'll find in the Sacramento Region. Paper wasps tend to have brown or black coloring with yellow markings, and they get their name from the nests they build out of paper-like materials. While these wasps may sting if they feel threatened or their nest is in danger, they're far from the most aggressive type of wasp.
  • Mud dauber wasps: Mud daubers are usually black and can have pale markings or metallic luster. They grow from 1/2 inch to over an inch and can be identified by their nests, which get built from mud and look like large, mud-colored balls with cylindrical cells. Like paper wasps, these critters may sting if they have to, but rarely sting unprovoked.
  • Yellow jackets: Yellow jackets are the most aggressive wasp out of the three, with compact bodies and distinct black and yellow markings. They can build their nests in wall cavities or other shelters, but they often create nests in open cavities in the ground.

While they may differ in how aggressive they are, all of these wasps are stinging insects that you should treat with care.

a mud dauber wasp on a flower

How Dangerous Are Wasps?

Are wasps dangerous? Wasp stings can happen from time to time, and these stinging insects can be dangerous for Sacramento Region residents, especially if they're building nests on your property. Unlike honeybees, which can only sting you one time, the anatomy of a wasp's stinger allows them to sting you as many times as they want without harm to themselves.

Given how protective they are of their nests, accidentally stumbling on a wasp nest can cause these insects to attack in swarms – which can become dangerous for anyone unable to get away.

Besides stinging multiple times and attacking in swarms, wasps can also be dangerous or even deadly for anyone who is allergic. Wasp allergies aren't uncommon, and if you're someone who's allergic, dealing with a wasp nest is a dangerous proposition.

Natural Wasp Prevention Tips

As dangerous as they are, keeping wasps away from your Sacramento Region property is crucial, and there are some natural ways you can deter these stinging insects, such as:

  • Don't leave any food sources out on your property, like fruit, food scraps, or overflowing trash cans.
  • Use caulk to seal any tiny cracks and crevices around your home that may be easy entrances for wasps to get inside.
  • Fill any open cavities in the ground since this can be a hotspot for yellowjackets to build their nests.
  • Make sure you're not leaving any open doors or windows for wasps to fly inside.
  • If you have window or door screens, ensure that there aren't any tears or rips and replace any broken screens. 
  • Regularly check for wasp nests around your property, like under eaves, porches, trees, or other wall cavities, but do not try and get rid of the nest on your own.

It's far easier to deter wasps from settling on your property than to be left dealing with an active nest.

The Safest Form Of Wasp Control

It's one thing to know how to deter wasps, but there's only one safe solution when they are already on your property. Whether you're allergic to wasps or not, dealing with a wasp nest without the right gear and training can quickly turn dangerous for even the healthiest of the Sacramento Region residents.

Rather than put yourself at risk, the safest way to combat wasps in the Sacramento Region is with the professional help of HomeShield Pest Control. Our experienced professionals can safely and effectively control any wasp issues on your Sacramento Region property and help keep these stinging insects permanently off your Sacramento Region lawn.

If you suspect you've got a wasp nest, either active or abandoned, your safest solution is to call in the professionals. Contact us today at HomeShield Pest Control to learn more about our wasp control services or schedule an inspection.