Frequently Asked Questions About Wasps In Western Massachusetts

Do you ever wonder about wasps? These flying insects are all over the place here in Western Massachusetts, and sometimes they find their way into our homes. This is where real problems start. As you might know, wasps have a bad habit of attacking people and animals. Because of this, most people are hesitant when these pests are around. The truth is, you do not always have to be afraid of these stinging insects. They only attack under certain conditions. That said, there is probably a lot about common wasps that you do not know. To help you better understand these pests and know how to control active infestations here in Western Massachusetts, here are some things to consider today. If you need immediate help, contact our team at American Pest Solutions for help in dealing with an active nest inside or around your home. We have amazing options for pest control in Western Massachusetts and we would be happy to put our experience to work for you. Keep reading to have your questions about wasps answered.

What Types Of Wasps Are There In Western Massachusetts?

Not all wasps are the same. Some species are social and live in large nests. Others like to live alone or in apartment-style housing. We believe that it is important that you know how to identify different types of wasps in Western Massachusetts so that you can best understand and avoid these pests in our area. Here are a few of the most common species and how to identify each.

Paper wasps are ⅝ to ¾” long and have brown bodies with yellow or red markings. These social insects live in large nests made of chewed-up cellulose. You might find these nests under the eaves of buildings on your property, inside trees, underground, or in a variety of other locations.

Bald-faced hornets are ½ to ⅝” long and are black with white markings on their face. This common insect is closely related to the yellow jacket and is only considered to be a hornet because of its large aerial nests. Find these nests inside tree hollows or on dense trees and shrubs.

Cicada killers are 1 ½ to 2” long and are black or brown with yellow markings on their abdomen. This large insect lives alone inside small burrows which it digs into the ground. As its name suggests, the cicada killer kills and feeds on cicadas and settles in areas where these loud bugs are commonly found.

Mud daubers are ½ to 1” long and are either black with pale markings or have a metallic luster. This pest also has a pinched waist and bright yellow legs. You will find this stinging insect inside mud tubes on the sides of buildings, under bridges, and in secluded areas that provide some protection from the elements.

Sometimes it is hard to tell what kinds of wasps are present on your property or where they have built their nests. To quickly identify if your Western Massachusetts property has an active infestation, let us pay you a visit. Our team will inspect your property for signs of these pests and find nests. We will then recommend options to address the problems you are facing to give these pests the boot.

How Dangerous Are Wasps?

One common misconception about wasps is that they are always looking for someone to sting. This simply is not the case. These pests are not flying around teeming with rage. They are actually quite even-tempered creatures. In fact, most wasp species that live in our area are extremely docile and will go out of their way to avoid starting fights with their painful stings. Keeping this in mind, there are some things that will make you more likely to be attacked by these pests. The first and most obvious thing is outward aggression. If you threaten a wasp by swatting at it, trapping it in your hands, or accidentally sitting on it, it will lash out. This is its way of saying, “Back off!” Another reason why these pests might become aggressive is if they feel directly threatened by your presence. This is most likely to happen if you wander too close to an active nest. Certain species, like paper wasps, become much more aggressive during the fall months as they prepare their queens for hibernation. This increases their chances of going out of their way to sting people that are too close to their nests.

Not all wasp stings are the same. Some hurt a lot. Others are not as bad. Although there is no real way to measure the pain of a wasp sting by studying its venom, there have been scientists, including Dr. Schmidt, who have made it their life's work to expose themselves to stings and rate their pain on an index. These brave individuals have established that pests like mud daubers have mild stings while paper wasps have stings that pack a good punch.

Although stings hurt, they are not usually life-threatening. Stings can become life-threatening, however, if you receive a lot of them or if you are allergic. For the average person, it takes a few dozen stings from common wasps before there is any real risk of serious injury. A person who is allergic to venom, however, will suffer risk with only one sting. If you do not know if you are allergic to wasp stings, talk with your doctor. He or she should be able to perform the needed tests and help you assess your risk. Otherwise, do your best to avoid stings as a general rule, and call our team if you suspect wasps are settling somewhere near your home.

Why Do I Have Wasps In My Yard?

Of all the things that you should know about wasps, one of the most important details is why these pests build their nests where they do. This will help you determine why problems keep occurring inside or around your home and provide some insight into how to prevent these pests from settling on your property in the future. Keeping this in mind, here are some of the most common reasons wasps might decide to build a nest in your yard.

• An influx of bug activity: Many species hunt and eat insects and will be more encouraged to build a nest in or near a place with lots of insect activity. 
• Open trash cans: Lots of wasps love consuming foods that are rich in protein. If you throw away a piece of chicken, steak, or pork and your trash can does not have a tight-fitting lid, these pests will go inside to find a meal.
• Lots of flowers: Wasps are like bees in that they like sweet things. This includes flowers. The more flowers and budding plants there are in your yard, the more likely these pests will be to build a nest nearby.
• Eating outdoors: Wasps like to eat a lot of the same foods humans do. If you eat outdoors regularly and leave foods/beverages uncovered, these pests will want to be around. 
• Pet food: Wasps enjoy many brands of pet food. If you feed your pets outdoors, these stinging insects might buzz down and look to steal some for themselves and might decide to build a nest nearby.

If possible, you should do everything in your power to reduce factors that might attract wasps to your yard. This might include things like feeding your pets indoors, keeping things clean around your property, and making sure your trash cans have tight-fitting lids. For more help deterring wasps or to handle an active infestation inside or around your home, talk with our team. We have everything you need to identify, eliminate, and prevent these dangerous insects.

What's The Best Way To Keep Wasps Away From The Yard?

Dealing with wasps is dangerous if you do not know what you are doing. If you see a nest on your property or you are trying to identify where these pests are, be careful. One wrong move and they will attack with a vengeance. Thankfully, there is a way to combat wasps without the risk of getting stung. This involves hiring a pest control professional. Our team at American Pest Solutions has been dealing with dangerous wasps for a long time. We know exactly how to treat and remove nests with a minimal chance of getting stung. We also offer options to protect your home and outbuildings from future invasion. The only question is, do you want an easy and affordable option for wasp control? If so, please do not hesitate to talk with us. We would be happy to answer questions about our services and find a treatment plan that will best meet your needs.

Contact our team of professionals at American Pest Solutions if you would like to learn more about our home pest control in Western Massachusetts or if you are ready to make an appointment. We will make sure all of your pest problems are well taken care of.