If you’ve been spent any time outdoors lately, you’ve probably noticed that your gardens are alive with activity. Stinging insects are out in full force and, as we get deeper into summer, wasp populations around your property are only going to increase.
While the best prevention against wasps occurs in early spring, the following last-minute tips for wasp prevention in New England can help.
Last minute tips for wasp prevention in New England
There are several things you can do to try to keep wasps away from your home and lawn this summer, even if you’ve missed the spring-prevention period.
- Eliminate or reduce food sources - Like most stinging insects, wasps love sweet foods, but they’ll eat other things too. If you eat meals outdoors, make sure to keep your food and garbage bins covered and tightly closed, and bring everything inside when you’re done. If you have a lot of flowering plants, wasps will visit them for nectar; consider planting these plants a safe distance from your house to reduce the wasps in your immediate vicinity.
- Eliminate water sources - Wasps need water to survive, so eliminating water sources can help reduce the number of wasps you see around your yard. Check for leaky spigots, clogged gutters, and water leaks. Don’t overwater your garden, and trim plants back to reduce shady spots; this will ensure the ground doesn’t stay too wet.
- Pay attention to what you wear - Bright colors and sweet-smelling perfumes or lotions will attract wasps right to you. If you plan to spend time in your yard, try to wear muted clothing, and keep scented items to a minimum.
Why wasps are entering their most active period
Wasp queens are the only wasps to survive winter. In early spring, they begin to build their nest and lay eggs. Since spring is the time when wasps are lowest in number, this is the ideal time to take steps to prevent them from building nests on your property, and to eliminate any partially built nests that you find.
Once queens establish nests and their eggs start hatching, they have the help they need to collect food, increase their nests, and increase their populations. The hive will grow more and more active until late summer, when they become most aggressive as fall approaches.
What to do if you find a wasp nest on your New England property
At this time of year, if you have a lot of wasps around your New England yard, it’s likely that there is a nest nearby. When you locate it, it’s best not to try to remove it yourself. Wasps can leave you with painful and dangerous stings, and you’re likely to get more than one if you agitate their nest.
American Pest Solutions can take care of your wasp problem safely. Once the nest is removed, you’ll find their population greatly reduced around your yard, making it a pleasant place to spend time again. For any wasp problems you encounter on or around your New England property this summer, contact the professionals at American Pest Solutions!