As the warmer months arrive, homeowners often find themselves dealing with an increase in wasp and bee activity. No one wants wasps buzzing around their property, as they can interfere with summer activities, barbecues and other outdoor events. Understanding these insects is crucial for maintaining a safe and comfortable home environment, ensuring that you can enjoy your summer to the fullest. This comprehensive guide from Orkin Canada covers everything you need to know about wasps, how to identify their nests, best wasp pest control methods and more. 

What Homeowners Need to Know About Wasp Pest Control

Dealing with wasps as a homeowner can be challenging. While these pests are quite beneficial for their contributions to agriculture and controlling insect populations, they’re often a real nuisance around personal living spaces. They typically don’t sting unless provoked, but that doesn’t mean they’re a welcome sight at a backyard dinner party. In addition to ruining outdoor activities, wasps also have the potential to make their way inside homes and cause even further trouble. 

Want to get the 411 on wasps? From their appearance to their behaviour, Orkin Canada has all the details on how to prevent wasps from entering your home and keep them from coming back. 

What Do Wasps Look Like?

Knowing what wasps look like is a crucial first step in determining whether you have a wasp issue. There are hundreds of species of wasps and they’re often confused with common bees. To distinguish wasps from other flying pests, look for the following:

  • Colour: Most wasps have yellow, red, black or brownish markings 
  • Body: Wasps have a pinched or constricted waist and are slender, with less hairy bodies than most bees

For example, paper wasps have yellow and black stripes like yellowjackets, but have a narrow waist and not much hair. Also, unlike bees, wasps can sting multiple times and still live on, making them a concern for homeowners. Wasps have a hollow stinger at the base of the body that injects venom when it stings. Not only do wasps look different, but so do their nests. 

A close-up of a single wasp on a wooden surface, against a dark background.

Identifying Wasp Nests

There are many types of wasps, but the most common ones that are more likely to buzz around your property are yellowjackets, paper wasps and hornets. Each species’ nest is unique and varies by construction material, shape and location. Be on the lookout for these nests around your home:

  • Hornets build aerial nests typically in sheltered and concealed areas such as in hollow trees and branches, wall voids, under eaves and inside places like sheds, garages and attics
  • Yellowjackets often build their nests underground as well as aerial nests in tree branches, in structural voids and cavities
  • Paper Wasps are tiny pests that attach their nests to fences, tree branches, twigs, eaves, doors and window frames
  • Mud Daubers build their mud constructed nests in sheltered sites. Look for these wasps’ nests in building structures and walls

Close-up of a hornet nest attached to wooden beams under a green roof.

Learn more about how to identify bee and wasp nests or download our Wasp 101 tipsheet.

Wasps vs. Bees Behaviour

During the spring and summer months, wasps don’t tend to be aggressive. They are busy raising their young and focused on expanding their colonies. The larvae produce a sugary secretion that the adult wasps feed on. As the summer continues, the wasp nest becomes full of adult wasps and there are no larvae left to raise. So, wasps will then search outside the colony for food sources. As the nest gets crowded and the outside temperature rises, wasps tend to become more irritable and aggressive.

Why are wasps aggressive in late summer? It’s because they’re in search of food. Wasps are attracted to carbohydrates, protein and sugar. So, if you’re enjoying a meal or drinks on the patio or picnic table during the summer, there’s a high chance that wasps will be swarming around. Once they’ve fed on sugary foods or liquids, wasps become a bit intoxicated and are more likely to sting. Bees are much less aggressive and only sting when they feel threatened or when protecting their hives.

In the winter months, most wasps will die as the temperature drops — only fertilized queens will survive by hibernating underneath tree barks, or in cracks and voids within structures. Bees, on the other hand, survive the winter. They start preparing for winter in late summer. They store nectar and pollen to ensure their colony survives the cold months. 

What Attracts Wasps? 

Wasps have diverse diets that vary with the seasons and their developmental stage. During their larval stage, they primarily consume protein-rich foods, including other insects, spiders, and scavenged meats. In contrast, adult wasps mainly feed on sugary substances such as nectar, honeydew, fruit juices, and sweet human-made foods. Human food waste is a major attraction, making trash cans at schools, picnic areas, public pools, and busy outdoor parks prime gathering spots for these social insects. Wasps are particularly drawn to sweeteners like sucralose, sucrose, and glucose, which are commonly found in modern foods. Sugary treats made with high fructose corn syrup, along with exposed and decaying meats, are especially enticing. Additionally, exposed food can attract other insects, providing wasps with both the protein and sugar they crave.

When selecting a nesting site, wasps are often drawn to preexisting burrows or the former homes of small rodents and other tiny mammals. They favor concealed locations for nest-building, whether underground or within shrubs, trees, and bushes. Certain species will even occupy nests originally created by other wasps, bees or small animals. Sandy or bare soil is particularly attractive to solitary wasp colonies, while voids in attics, walls insulated with soft materials like drywall, or even abandoned vehicles can also provide suitable nesting environments. Large cavities in trees and stumps are equally appealing for nest construction.

Tips for Avoiding Wasp Stings

To help reduce the chance of wasp stings, here are some things you can do: 

  • Avoid use of scented soaps, perfume or deodorants when outdoors.
  • ​​Avoid wearing bright coloured and floral patterned clothing when outdoors.
  • Avoid walking barefoot in grassy or weedy areas, as some wasps nest underground. Always wear appropriate footwear to protect yourself.
  • Stay calm if there’s a wasp flying around you. Try not to swing or swat wasps away.
  • Keep food and drinks covered when outdoors.

Identifying if you have a Wasp Problem

If you regularly see one or more wasps while in your yard, you likely have a nest somewhere on your property. These nests are often hidden from sight and revealed by a steady stream of wasps in and out of a hole or gap in your home or on your property. As a general rule, wasps tend to gather at high structures or objects and send out scouts in search of food, particularly sweet scents and decomposing meats. 

Wasps are a swarming species; when one finds a food source, it quickly returns to the nest to alert the others. While they typically stay outdoors, wasps may also enter buildings in search of food, nesting sites, sheltered spots to hibernate or simply by accident.

The Damage that Wasps Can Cause to a House

Wasps can cause significant damage to your property. Not only are they unsightly and intimidating, but they can also chew through wood to construct their nests, potentially weakening and causing aesthetic damage to structures, roofs and siding over time. Abandoned or old nests can contribute to mold growth and attract other pests, creating additional problems. Their presence can also deter outdoor activities, affecting your enjoyment of outdoor spaces.

With their strong jaws, wasps can also chew their way into homes, building nests within walls,  near electrical wiring or inside your insulation. This can lead to electrical circuit interference, increasing the risk of electrical failure and potential fires.

A wasp nest partially concealed in a vent opening.

Wasp Pest Control Prevention Tips

Luckily, there are things you as homeowners can do to prevent wasps from creating nests on your property and home: 

  • Trim foliage to eliminate or reduce nesting sites: Bushes, shrubs and trees can all act as potential nesting sites. Keep foliage from overgrowing around and on your property to discourage wasp activity.
  • Identify and exclude wasp pressure points and nesting sites: Ask Orkin Canada to help inspect your landscaping and building façade to identify potential entry points or nesting sites. Seal up any openings to keep wasps out.
  • Eliminate food and spills: Store all food in airtight containers and clean up spills right away to minimize available food sources. After eating or feeding pets outdoors, promptly clear away dishes and food crumbs to prevent attracting wasps to your property.
  • Good sanitation and garbage management: To minimize wasp attraction, use garbage containers with tight-fitting lids. Ensure that receptacles do not overflow, and promptly clean up any litter around the property. If possible, store garbage cans in a sheltered area, away from open spaces, and only place them outside on collection day.
  • Store your recycling bins indoors: Do not store recycling bins outdoors because the sweet smell and remnants of juice and soda attract wasps. Be sure to rinse the bins   periodically to eliminate build-up of sugar at the bottom of the bins.
  • Use wasp traps: Wasp traps are a great way to contain an active wasp population on your property. 

Additionally, ensure all vents are properly screened, and check that window screens, as well as door and window seals, are in good condition with no gaps. Regularly inspect your property for signs of wasp nests or buzzing activity, paying special attention to building eaves, wall voids, window ledges and the surrounding landscape. Since chimneys are a common entry point for wasps, installing a chimney cap can help prevent nests from forming inside.

A cluster of wasps gathered around an entrance hole in a wall.

Wasp Pest Control: Wasp Removal

If you discover a wasp nest on your property, it’s important to address and remove it promptly. Professional pest control services are highly effective in removing wasp nests and preventing future infestations. Without professional wasp removal, you run the risk of wasp stings, injuries and other health risks. Your best option for wasp control and nest removal is always to contact an experienced pest management professional. However, there are a few measures homeowners can take on their own to prevent a wasp infestation or control an existing one.

Insecticides

As mentioned above, the easiest and most effective way to end a wasp problem is to contact a pest management professional. These trained technicians will use appropriately labelled products to manage and control wasp infestations on your property and around your home and prevent future infestation. They have the technical knowledge and equipment to safely control and eliminate wasp infestations without posing health risks. If you choose this recommended option, be sure to clean up any dead wasps you see lying around after treatment, as they may still contain insecticide residues that can pose safety risks to non-targets such as kids and pets when ingested, stepped on or touched.

Traps

For a minor wasp issue, you can create a simple trap by filling a lidded jar with orange juice or soda. Poke small holes in the lid and place the jar in areas where wasps are most active. Attracted to the sweet scent, the wasps will enter the jar and drown in the liquid. To keep the trap effective and prevent flies like fruit flies from breeding inside, replace the bait each evening after dark.

False Nests

Wasps are highly territorial, which means preventing them can be as easy as creating a false nest on your property. These are widely available and sold at many hardware stores. Colonizing wasps will see the fake nest and be deterred from establishing a presence in or around your home.

Reducing Attractiveness

Make your property less attractive to wasps by eliminating bare, sandy areas to prevent ground nesting wasps. When outdoors, keep all food covered; do not leave used beverage cups and plates lying around as it draws wasps to your property. Be sure to tightly seal garbage and keep doors and windows closed or screened.

For more detailed info on keeping your home wasp-free, download Orkin Canada’s wasp 101 guide.

Professional Wasp Treatment and Removal Options

Accurate identification is crucial for successful wasp control. Your Orkin Canada Pro will conduct a thorough inspection of your property to determine the exact species of wasps present. Each species exhibits unique behaviors and nesting habits, making proper identification essential for selecting the most effective treatment. Additionally, the timing of treatment and consideration of environmental factors play a vital role in ensuring the effective management of wasp infestations.

Orkin Canada can help you control and manage wasp infestations on your property. Our experts and Orkin Pros have the professional training, knowledge and experience to get your wasp infestation removal done correctly, the first time. We inspect your property and provide a variety of wasp pest control treatments that are designed to properly and safely eliminate wasp infestations and nests. On top of that, our Orkin Pro will also provide you with tips and recommendations on how to prevent wasps in the future. Contact us today for a free home estimate.