When you’re outside in summer, you might see wasps buzzing around. While it’s easy to keep your distance from them when you’re outdoors, what happens if these pests build a nest in your home or yard? You should rely on Hilton Head area pest control to get rid of these nests for you, since doing so on your own can be highly dangerous.
Identifying Wasps
How do you know if it’s wasps you’re seeing? Many wasps in SC have long, thin bodies unlike honeybees, carpenter bees or bumble bees. Wasps also have smooth, hairless bodies, while bees and other stinging insects have hairs on their bodies. You might see paper wasps, yellow jackets or any of the other wasp types that make their home in the Hilton Head area.
Checking for Wasp Nests
If you see wasps flying around, there’s usually a nest nearby. Paper wasps make nests that have an open design filled with hexagonal cells. These nests are generally made in the shape of an umbrella and can usually be easily spotted. You might find them hanging from the eaves of your home or on other structures or trees.
Yellow jackets typically build nests underground or in areas where you can’t see them easily. This can be a problem, since these insects tend to become very aggressive when anyone approaches their nest. You might have a yellow jacket nest on your property if you see these bugs flying in and out of the same area.
Keep in mind that wasps can also build nests inside your home, such as inside the walls. Seeing wasps inside your home or flying close to the exterior could mean that you have a wasp nest somewhere inside.
Risks of Dealing with Wasps
Should you take down a wasp nest on your own if you see one? While this might seem like a more convenient way to handle them, it comes with serious risks. Many types of wasps will attack at the slightest sign of someone coming near their home. While paper wasps usually only have about a hundred or so wasps inside a nest, yellow jackets can build nests that contain thousands.
When wasps attack, they usually do so as a large group and they don’t lose their stingers when they attack someone, as honeybees do. When wasps come at you, they can sting you over and over again. These are painful stings for most people, but they can be deadly for those who have an allergy to bee and wasp stings.
What to Do About Wasp Nests
Leaving a wasp nest alone means that you and your family are at risk of being stung. These wasps also have a chance to reproduce and make bigger colonies if you don’t get rid of them. Hilton Head area pest control services can eliminate wasp nests as safely as possible. Whether that means removing a nest from your garage or eaves or eliminating a nest inside your wall, pest control technicians have the tools, equipment and knowledge needed for removing wasp nests. This helps ensure that you have a nest taken down without having to worry about getting stung.
Wasp Prevention
You might not be able to fully prevent wasps from making a nest on your property, but a few simple steps can help. Seal up entry points that wasps can use to get inside, such as gaps around doors or holes in window screens. Having Hilton Head area pest control professionals inspect your property for these bugs and eliminate them as needed can also keep you safe from a large infestation.
If you have a wasp nest in your home, contact Island Pest Control for help. Our technicians are able to provide you with Hilton Head area pest control, including wasp nest removal that’s done safely.
