Wasps can be a nuisance when they start appearing around your home. Unlike bees, wasps do not produce honey and pollinate plants. They are more aggressive and will sting repeatedly when threatened. Knowing where wasps are entering your home is the first step to getting rid of them. This article provides tips on locating wasp nests so you can remove them and prevent wasps from returning.
Look for signs of wasp activity
The best way to find where wasps are accessing your home is to inspect areas around the exterior for signs of wasp activity. Here are some things to look for:
– Mud nests – Many species of wasps, like paper wasps, construct nests out of mud or plant fibers. Check the eaves, rafters, roof, and any overhangs for small, round or football-shaped gray paper nests.
– Chewed wood – Mud dauber wasps chew up bits of wood to construct their mud nest tubes. Look for small piles of coarse, chewed up wood debris around openings.
– Buzzing – Listen for the distinct buzzing of wasps coming and going from a centralized spot. Pinpoint where the buzzing is loudest to locate the nest entrance.
– Wasp traffic – Keep an eye out for multiple wasps flying to and from one particular area. This may indicate the entrance to their nest.
– Sweet smell – The scent of honey can sometimes point to an active wasp nest nearby.
– Holes – Inspect eaves, cracks, crevices, weep holes, and cavities for small 1/4 to 1/2 inch holes that wasps may be using to enter and exit through.
Inspect problem rooms
Pay close attention to rooms inside the home where wasps are frequently spotted. This includes attics, basements, sheds, garages, or crawl spaces. Locate any openings they may be using to get inside, such as:
– Open windows or doors with gaps
– Cracks or holes in siding, stucco, or brick
– Gaps aroundutility pipes, wiring, vents, chimneys, or other penetrations
– Openings around the roofline, fascia, soffit or eaves
– Holes in screens
– Uncapped chimneys
– Loose vents or vent covers
– Gaps under siding or around trim
Watch problem rooms closely to see exactly where wasps are appearing from. If possible, follow them back outside to where their nest is located.
Check the exterior at night
An easy way to locate nests is to inspect your home at night when wasps are less active. Look for areas where they are crawling in and out. Wasps normally rest in their nest at night, so watch for increased activity around openings to identify entry points. Turn off lights and use a flashlight, red light, or headlamp so you do not disturb them.
Follow flight paths
Observe the wasps’ flight paths during the day. Look for patterns – do they seem to be coming and going from one direction? Take note of where they are exiting and returning to. Their entrance will most likely be located along that flight path.
Stand in different spots around your home to follow their traffic and track down the spot wasps are congregating around.
Use traps
Wasp traps can also help reveal activity hot spots. Hang traps in different areas around your home and see where they catch the most wasps. This should give you an idea of where the main nest entrance is located. Traps may also catch emerging wasps and reduce the existing population while you look for the nest.
Call in a professional
In some cases, locating a wasp nest can be difficult if it’s hidden behind walls or in hard to reach places. It’s always a good idea to call a pest control professional to inspect. They have the right tools and expertise to pinpoint nest locations. Some things they may do include:
– A thorough visual inspection of the interior and exterior
– Using flashlights to look inside attics and crawl spaces
– Carefully removing sections of siding or roof material to check for hidden nests
– Using thermal imaging cameras to identify heat signatures from nests
– Identifying exactly where wasps are exiting and following them back to the source
A professional can safely remove the nest once it’s located. This will provide immediate and permanent relief from wasp problems.
Prepare for removal and prevention
Once you’ve confirmed the location of the wasp nest, you can start preparing to get rid of it. Here are some tips:
– Choose a pesticide or removal method that will kill wasps and destroy the nest, such as liquid sprays or powders, dusts, foams, or aerosols. Non-pesticide options include shop vacuums, soapy water, or calling a pest control company to physically remove the nest.
– Plan to treat nests at night when wasps are less active and all are inside. Temporary knockdown sprays can help make removal easier and safer during the day.
– Cover up with protective clothing like long sleeves, pants, closed toe shoes, and thick gloves. Wear long sleeves and gloves when reaching up into eaves and overhangs to treat nests.
– Have an escape route planned and move slowly to avoid aggravating wasps.
– Prepare to seal up any holes or cracks leading into the nest once it’s treated. This keeps new queens from getting back in to start another colony. Use caulk, insulation, copper mesh, or other sealants depending on the location and entry point.
– Install outdoor lighting, window screens, or cover eaves and overhangs to help deter future nest building in those areas.
Safety tips
– Use extreme caution when doing your own inspection and removal. Wasps will vigorously defend the nest if disturbed.
– If you have an allergy, it’s best to avoid getting close to the nests and have a professional take care of removal.
– Conduct your search from a safe distance if possible by using binoculars or other vision aids like a drone or camera attached to an extension pole.
– Carry a cell phone in case of emergencies and let others know your location.
– Inspect nests at night when cooler evening temperatures make wasps more sluggish.
– Stand back and do not block or trap wasps during removal. Give them an escape route away from you.
– If stung, treat the area with ice and anti-itch creams. Seek emergency care for multiple stings or signs of allergic reaction.
Types of Wasps and Their Nests
Here are some of the most common wasps and where they are most often found nesting:
Paper wasps
Nest Appearance | Open, umbrella shaped grey paper nests |
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Favored Nest Locations | Under eaves, roofline, window frames, deck railings, picnic tables, tree branches |
Yellowjackets
Nest Appearance | Enclosed paper nests shaped like a ball or tear drop |
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Favored Nest Locations | In the ground, in shrubs or mulch, abandoned rodent burrows, wall voids, attics, crawl spaces |
Hornets
Nest Appearance | Large grey paper football-shaped nests |
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Favored Nest Locations | High tree branches, shrubs, attics, sheds |
Mud daubers
Nest Appearance | Tube or vase-like mud nests |
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Favored Nest Locations | Under porches or eaves, inside sheds, garages, barns |
Conclusion
Locating a wasp nest on your property takes patience and detective work. Look carefully around the exterior and interior living spaces for signs of activity. Observe traffic patterns and follow wasps back to their entrance hole. Traps and night inspections can also help zero in on their nest location so you can remove it and enjoy wasp-free outdoor living again. Taking time to find the nest and seal up entry points will help prevent wasps from re-colonizing that space in the future.