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Treat the wasp colony immediately with any pest control method to prevent further danger.
If you have noticed wasp nests or seen black and yellow flying pest around your house, there is a chance that you are dealing with a wasp infestation. Treat the wasp colony immediately with any pest control method to prevent further danger.
Before executing the actual treatment, you must identify the nest and wasp species by inspecting their colony. Take full precautionary measures by wearing protective gear such as full sleeves and long pants, closed-toed shoes, gloves, and goggles before going near the nests while implementing the below treatment plans:
- Nest drenching: Drench the wasp’s nest with an insecticide spray. Take all precautions to avoid contact with insecticide while spraying. Destroy the nest once all wasps diminished.
- Nest dusting: It poses less risk than nest drenching. Powder dust pesticide is ideal if wasp infestation is not posing an immediate threat or if the wasp nest is located on the ground. Sprinkle some pesticide dust over the nest and surrounding area and move away immediately.
- Perimeter spraying: It is an important step while controlling wasps. Spray the same insecticide (which you might have already used to drench a nest) in the areas where the wasps are flying. These insecticides can be harmful to plants; therefore, spray them around the area and avoid spraying directly on them. Spray it near the entrance of your home.
- Baiting: If you aren’t able to locate the wasp nest, this is a good option. Some homemade wasp traps attract wasps, which may help to get rid of wasps. Cut the soda bottle head off at the point where the top slope ends. Add the lunch meat, soda, and vinegar and turn its head upside down. Place it in such a way that the neck is facing toward the bottom of the bottle with the cap unscrewed. Hang this bottle trap outside with rope.
- Homemade spray: Mix one teaspoon of dish soap with two cups of water and spray this solution on the wasp and wait 10-15 minutes until it dies.
- Traps: Traps can be used to reduce wasp infestation in your area. Baits such as ham, fish, and meat scraps early in the season and sugar syrups, spoiled fruit, and jelly late in the season placed in the saucer or plate at the bottom of the commercially available trap attract the insects. Once flying in, they cannot escape.
If you suspect paper wasp infestation in your property, avoid removing the nest on your own. Contact licensed pest control personnel.
What happens if a wasp stings you?
If a paper wasp stings you, you may develop
- Redness or slight soreness at the point of the attack.
- Rashes.
- Severe allergic reactions such as:
- Life-threatening anaphylactic shock such as weak or rapid pulse nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and tingling sensation in the body.
What to do if a wasp stings you?
If a wasp stings you, wash the bitten area with soap and cold water. If you have been bitten on the limb, elevate it. Take over the counter painkillers such as acetaminophen to reduce pain and antihistamines such as Allergan. Apply steroid ointment to calm the local reaction. If you have any serious allergic reactions, then visit your doctor immediately or get an epinephrine auto-injector, which is a medicine that immediately reduces allergic reaction.
How to prevent wasp infestations?
The best way to prevent nesting behavior of wasps is to take preventive action, especially during spring and summer months such as the following:
- Seal the wasp entrance points around the house doors and windows during changing weather. Pay special attention to house roofs, basements, and attics. Repair the exterior surfaces of your house for cracks, rotten wooden planks, holes in the foundation, open plumbing cuts into the basement, and loose boards. Duct tape, copper mesh, spackle, caulk, and cement patch are effective exclusion materials.
- Make sure you take away food sources such as pet food or leftovers that wasps may attack.
- Cover the garbage cans and harvest fruits from any trees in your yard so that they do not fall and leave sources for wasps.
- Avoid bright colors or floral patterns clothing or strong scents such as perfumes and colognes, which may mistakenly attract wasps. Always wear shoes when you venture out.
- Take special precautions if you have birdhouses in your property.
- Seal under the roof with aluminum foil or rub some common bar soap to avoid nests in that area.
- Use a fake nest to distract the wasps because they consider it as the real nest of other wasps and tend to avoid them.
- Use wasp-deterrent products to keep wasps out of your yard.