Five Easy Ways to Keep Hornets & Wasps Away
Let's start today with a bit of clarification. Do you know that hornets and wasps are the same? We don't mean similar. They are the same exact creatures. If you see a hornet on your Los Angeles County property, it is a wasp. The contrast, however, is not always true. Not all wasps are hornets. In fact, few wasps in the United States are proper hornets. The good news is that you don't need to understand what makes a hornet a hornet. They all act like wasps because they're all wasps. With that out of the way, let's take a look at five easy ways you can deter wasps.
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1. Reduce Water Sources In Your Yard
Water is essential for life. Not only do wasps drink water to survive, but they also share it with other wasps in their nests, use it for cooling inside their nests, and mix water with other materials to build their nests. Water is super important. If wasps are unable to find suitable water sources in your yard, they're not going to want to build a nest. This is good news for you because nest creation increases your chance of being stung.
Here are a few tips to help you reduce water sources that can attract wasps:
- Make sure your gutters are working properly.
- Reduce water captured by broadleaf plants.
- Remove clutter from your yard that can capture and hold rainwater.
- Water your plants in the early morning.
- Give your plants only the water they need; avoid overwatering
- Reduce vegetation in your landscaping to provide better airflow.
- Address exterior plumbing leaks including pipes, spigots, hoses, and sprinklers.
2. Food Sources
Water isn't the only resource wasps look for in your yard. If they find ample food, they will be inspired to create a nest. You're probably aware that wasps eat nectar from flowers and flowering plants, but this is far from the only food source that will attract them.
- Open trash cans. Wasps eat sweets and meats. If you have exposed garbage, you'll attract wasps from a distance. Not only is it important to keep trash in covered containers, it is also important to keep your receptacles free of strong odors.
- Pet food. If you feed a dog, cat, or livestock, that food can be an attractant for wasps. We recommend putting the food down only during mealtimes, if possible.
- A dirty grill. If you have cookouts in the backyard, your grill can be an attractant. Keep your grill as clean as possible and be sure to store food items away, after eating.
- Fruit left by a child. Kids can leave many things for wasps to eat. A common food item left out for wasps is sweet fruits. As a piece of fruit decays, it can become a beacon for scavenging wasps.
3. Harborage
When wasps come into your yard, some of them will look for ground holes and entry points into structures. This type of wasp creates void nests. Yellow jackets are a good example. If you want to deter yellow jackets, you need to remove harborage options.
- Fill in ground holes and address ground pests such as gophers and voles as quickly as possible.
- Remove piles of objects in your yard.
- Seal gaps and holes in the structures on your property.
4. Early Nest Detection
Some wasps that come into your yard will create aerial nests. These wasps can be deterred by detecting their nests early and by brushing them away with a broom. This should be done only if the hexagonal compartments in the nest can be seen, and only during the day when the wasps are away.
5. Pest Service
If you invest in a year-round residential pest control plan that includes wasps, you'll have the easiest and most effective wasp control possible. There are a few benefits to investing in pest control to manage the threat of wasps:
- A pest professional knows what conditions are conducive to wasp activity and where to inspect.
- A pest professional is much more likely to detect void nests, which are usually hidden from view.
- Life can get busy, and it can be difficult to remember to do routine inspections for wasps. You don't have to do this when you have routine visits from your pest control provider.
- If a nest is detected, a professional has the gear and training to address the problem.
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