Table of Contents

• How to Get Rid of Wasps
• → Wasp Prevention
• → Home Remedies for Wasps: Deterrents and Takedowns
• → How to Make a Homemade Wasp Trap
• → When to Call the Pros
• How to Treat Wasp Stings
• → Know the 3 Common Symptoms of Wasp Stings
• → Treating a Wasp Sting
• → The Difference Between Wasp Stings and Bee Stings
• → What if I’m Stung While I’m Pregnant?
• → What if My Child is Stung?
• → Professional Wasp Removal
• What is the Wasp Life Cycle?
• → A Word of Caution
• → How long do wasps live?
• → The Winter
• → The Spring
• → The Summer
• → The Fall
• → Got Wasps? Call Fox Today

How to Get Rid of Wasps

Are you actively looking to get rid of wasps in your yard? Here’s how:

Spray Insecticide

If you don’t want to wait around for a wasp trap to work, you can also use insecticide. There are many different types of insecticides available, so be sure to read the label carefully to find one that’s effective against wasps.

To use insecticide, simply spray it directly onto the nest. Be sure to do this at night, when the wasps are dormant. You may need to apply the insecticide multiple times before it’s effective.

Hang a Wasp Trap

Wasp traps are a safe and effective way to get rid of wasps. You can buy wasp traps at most hardware stores, or you can make your own using a glass jar and some sugar water. This combination will attract the wasps and they’ll be trapped inside the jar.

Although wasp traps are effective, they won’t work overnight. It may take a few days to catch all the wasps, so be patient.

Use Wasp Decoys

In late winter or early spring, queen wasps come out of their winter hiding places to make a home, but some species avoid areas with already established nests. If you hang a fake nest near places where wasps commonly show up, you can keep certain types of wasps away before they become a problem.

You can trick the queen wasps to avoid your property by hanging fake nests called wasp decoys. Wasp decoys can be bought online or made at home.

To make your own wasp decoy, fill a white paper lunch bag with plastic bags to make it puffy. Then use a permanent marker to make a black dot the size of a quarter in the bottom corner. Place a metal hook (or a paperclip bent into a hook) near the top of the bag. Tie off the top of the bag with rubber bands or string, making sure the hook can hold everything up.

Hang one of these on every corner of the eaves and any areas wasps commonly make nests, like near the shed or woodpile. Make sure the black dot faces outward so wasps think it’s the nest entrance.

Remember to hang these early in the season because a wasp decoy won’t work on wasps that are already established. 

If you come across a yellow jacket nest, it’s important to exercise caution – even if you don’t see any wasps around, there could be thousands waiting to swarm.

Call a Professional

Whether you’re struggling to keep wasps out of your pool, or you’re dealing with a large or dangerous wasp nest in your yard, it’s best to call in the help of a professional. Call Fox Pest Control, our trained experts have the experience and knowledge to safely remove a wasp nest. They’ll also provide you with tips on how to prevent wasps from nesting on your property in the future.

Can’t Figure Out How to Get Rid of Wasps? Know When to Call the Pros

The next question is when to call the professionals. The simple answer is to do everything you feel comfortable doing first and call the pros if wasps continue to come back. Or, if you’re allergic to wasp stings, it is best to call the pros right away.

Professionals can also help you find out why a problem might be continuing in spite of everything you have tried. There could be something in your yard that brings the wasps back. The pros will help you with these and other IPM (Integrated Pest Management) techniques that take wasp behavior into account. 

When wasps make a nest inside the walls of your home, it’s definitely time to call. Some homeowners have sealed wasps inside the walls. This causes wasps to chew through the walls and potentially sting people inside the house. Not a good thing at all!

Check out our blog post about why the world needs pest control for a broader view of pest control and what it does for us.

If you see wasps but you’re not sure where they are nesting, a professional can figure it out and treat the wasps for you without putting you or your family at risk.

Professional Wasp Control Near You

There are many pest control companies out there, so it is important to do your research. Don’t choose a company if you don’t like what they stand for or its core values. Check online reviews and talk to people with first-hand experience with the company, if you can. 

Fox Pest Control can be the perfect company for you. With tens of thousands of satisfied customers, we know how to get the job done right the first time. 

Even if you’re not sure about what kind of wasp problem you have, you can call for a free quote over the phone. If needed, we will send a Fox Pest Pro to your home to provide a free, no-obligation inspection and quote. 

Our Home Protection Plan covers wasps, crawling insects, and rodents. If the pests come back, you can call us for a free Target Treatment at any time. Our family-safe, pet-friendly, and environmentally responsible products will restore your peace of mind. 

Our customers always come first, because when you call Fox, you’re joining a family that cares.

Because No Bugs is Simply Better.

Getting rid of a wasp nest can be dangerous, so it’s important to exercise caution. If you’re not comfortable removing the nest yourself, call a professional. They’ll have the experience of safely getting rid of the nest and protecting your home from future infestations.

Wasp Prevention

Taking a few steps to keep wasps away before the wasp season starts can make a big difference later in the summer or early fall when wasps become most aggressive. When dealing with wasps, prevention is always the first step.

Once you’ve gotten rid of the wasp nest, you’ll want to take steps to prevent wasps from returning. Because let’s face it, dealing with a wasp nest is not something anyone wants to go through again.

There are a few things you can do to deter wasps:

• Keep your food and garbage sealed and stored away. Wasps are attracted to the smell of food, so if you keep your food out in the open, you’re more likely to attract wasps.
• Keep your yard clean and free of debris. Wasps like to build their nests in cluttered areas, so by keeping your yard clean, you’ll make it less appealing to them.
• Repair any cracks or holes in your home. Wasps can enter your home through even the smallest of openings. By repairing any cracks or holes, you’ll make it more difficult for them to get inside.
• Check for wasp nests regularly. If you have a problem with wasps, it’s a good idea to check for nests on a regular basis. This way, you can remove them before they get too big.
• Plant wasp-repellent plants. There are a few plants that act as natural repellents for wasps. These include eucalyptus, cloves, thyme, and citronella. Planting these around your home will help to keep wasps away.

If you follow these tips, you’ll be less likely to deal with wasps in the future. But if you do find yourself with a wasp problem, don’t hesitate to give Fox Pest Control a call.

And make sure to claim our coupon for $75 off bee and wasp removal! Just enter the code STING75 when you fill out our online form.

This coupon is valid for new customers only who sign up for the Home Protection Plan. Available for a limited time only and some restrictions may apply.

How to Get Rid of a Wasp Nest

Wasps are fascinating creatures that play an important role in our ecosystem. However, when they build their nests too close to our homes, they can become a nuisance.

They’re loud, they swarm, and they can be downright dangerous if you get too close.

If you find a wasp nest on your property, it’s important to take care of it as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more wasps will move in, and the harder it will be to get rid of them.

So, how do you get rid of a wasp nest?

Thankfully, there are ways to get rid of wasps and their nests without putting yourself in danger.

Locate the Wasp Nest

The first step is to find the wasp nest. This can be tricky, as wasps are good at hiding their nests. Check in the nooks and crannies around your home – wasps like to build their nests in dark, secluded areas. For example, you can find social wasps and yellow jackets nests in the walls or ceilings of houses, and paper wasps in the eaves of homes. 

If you’re having trouble finding the nest, try following a wasp back to its home. Once you find the nest, take note of its location so you can easily find it again later.

Determine the Type of Wasp Nest

It’s important to identify what type of wasp nest you’re dealing with, as this will determine the best course of action for getting rid of it. Here are some of the most common types of wasps nests:

Mud Daubers Nest – These nests are made out of mud and are usually found on the side of buildings or under eaves. They’re easy to spot and usually don’t pose a threat to humans.

Cicada Killers Nest – Cicada killers are a type of digger wasp. Their nests are made out of dirt and are usually found in the ground. Although their name sounds scary, they’re actually pretty harmless to humans.

Paper Wasp Nests – Paper wasp nests are made out of, you guessed it, paper. They’re usually found in trees or on the side of buildings. These nests can be more dangerous, as paper wasps are more aggressive when they are close to their nests.

Social Wasp Nests – Social wasp nests are some of the largest and most dangerous types of wasp nests. They’re usually found in the ground or in trees and can house thousands of wasps. These nests should only be removed by a professional.

Yellow Jacket Nests – Yellow jacket nests are the most dangerous, as they’re home to hundreds or even thousands of wasps. These nests are usually found inside void walls or eaves of homes.

Removing the Wasp Nest

Once you’ve located and identified the nest, you can take steps to get rid of it.

Here are a few ways you can remove a wasp nest:

Other Ways to Prevent Wasp Activity

Not all wasps build nests in eaves or trees. Some types of wasps, like yellow jackets and hornets, build nests in abandoned burrows made by gophers and other rodents. In late winter or early spring, inspect your yard for tunnels and holes left behind by rodents. Fill in any that you find.

Make your home less attractive to wasps by limiting food sources. Cover compost piles, garbage cans, and any food you bring outside, especially protein-rich and sugary foods or drinks.

Check that window and door screens are in good repair. Seal any large holes in the siding or brickwork before wasp season begins to discourage nesting. Never try to seal wasps inside a hole that they’ve already made in the house. They will burrow deeper and eventually start flying around inside!

Home Remedies for Wasps: Deterrents and Takedowns

Even with decoys and other preventative measures, wasps could still come into your yard. Some wasps, like the bald-faced hornet, ignore decoys and build nests anyway. Other species build their nests underground and don’t pay attention to nests in the eaves or trees. Because of this, it can be good to have a few deterrents and other remedies available to help you take down a nest if needed.

Proper Precautions

Never try to take down a nest by yourself if you are allergic to wasp stings. Risking an allergic reaction isn’t worth it, so call the professionals for help. If you aren’t allergic and still want to treat a wasp nest on your own, always wear protective equipment.

Protective Equipment

A hat, goggles, a scarf or bandana that covers all the way around your neck, a thick shirt with long sleeves like a sweatshirt, thick and long pants like sweatpants, sturdy closed-toe shoes, and gloves are just the bare essentials, even on a hot summer day. There are also bee suits complete with face masks and specialized gloves, but these can be expensive if you don’t take down wasp nests for a living. 

No matter what equipment you use, there is always the risk of getting stung, so exercise caution. If you are stung and experience reactions like shortness of breath, swelling over the whole body, or quickened heartbeat, seek emergency medical attention immediately.

Homemade Wasp Killer

For a family-friendly wasp treatment, mix grease-fighting dish soap or insecticide soap with water. Place the soapy water in a hose attachment or in a powerful sprayer. Spray the nest from a safe distance and watch the mixture take down the wasps quickly. You can increase the amount of soap for a stronger effect. 

Be careful when treating a nest, as there’s always the possibility of getting stung.

For other wasp and hornet killers, there are also over-the-counter (OTC) products you can purchase online or at a hardware store. All products have a label with proper use instructions and directions to keep you safe and protect the environment. Follow these instructions carefully to avoid accidents and other problems.

How to Make a Homemade Wasp Trap

Considering how simple this little trick is to do, it works extremely well. This trap is reusable, or you can make several and dispose of the old ones.

To make your own trap, you’ll need a two-liter soda bottle, scissors or a sharp knife, packing tape or duct tape, and wire. 

Cut the top of the bottle immediately below the rounded place near the spout. You can remove the cap and throw it away — you won’t need it for the trap. The portion you cut off has a spout and is shaped like a bowl. Turn this upside down so that the spout points toward the bottom of the bottle and place the bowl shape at the top of the bottle. Tape these two parts together. 

Fill the bottom of the bottle with several inches of sugar water or soda. Poke a pair of holes across the top edge that you just taped and string the wire through it for easy hanging. Place as many of these as you’d like near active wasp nests or anywhere wasps like to hang out. 

The wasps crawl through the spout to get to the sugar water at the bottom. Because the spout faces downward, they can’t find their way out. 

If you’re worried about trapping both wasps and bees, you can use meat and a little vinegar instead of sugar water. The meat attracts the wasps and the vinegar keeps the bees away because most honey bees feed only on flowers and other sugary food sources. 

As mentioned above, you can either throw the trap away once it’s filled with wasps, or you can reuse it. To reuse the trap, fill the bottle with water or vinegar and leave it in the sun for a few hours to kill the wasps. Remove the wire and tape and empty the dead wasps into the garbage. Refill the bottle with bait and then reattach the spout with tape and string the wire through it. Now it’s ready to hang and reuse.

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How to Treat Wasp Stings

Wasps can become a serious problem around your home, especially during the summer and early autumn when they are most active. Wasp stings can cause minor swelling, pain, and itching, but severe reactions can be life-threatening.

Even if you employ the best ways to prevent wasps, sometimes stings cannot be avoided. It’s best to be prepared with effective ways to treat a wasps sting in case you are stung.

Know the 3 Common Symptoms of Wasp Stings

Most of the time, wasp stings don’t cause long-term problems, so it’s best not to panic.

1. Normal Local Reactions

The first symptoms that you’ll see are redness and swelling at the site of the sting. A pale dot may appear where the stinger entered the skin. The swelling is likely to develop into a painful, itchy welt. Normally, these symptoms fade after a few hours, especially if you apply these home treatments.

If you are unsure whether you are allergic to stings, wait for 15-30 minutes. Normally, symptoms of an allergic reaction will start to appear during that time.

2. Large Local Reactions

The term “Large Local Reaction” describes swelling that is larger than normal or lasts longer than about a day. In some cases, the swelling may last up to a week, and the person may experience nausea and vomiting. By definition, large local reactions are not life-threatening, and normally the symptoms will vanish after a week.

Talk to your doctor if you experience a large local reaction. They may recommend over-the-counter medications to reduce symptoms and discomfort, such as an antihistamine, or they may provide a prescription-strength medication.

Your doctor can also help you determine whether you’re allergic to wasp stings, as well as the strength of the allergy. They may recommend immunotherapy, which helps make your body’s natural reaction to wasp stings less extreme. Immunotherapy may even reduce your risk of a more severe reaction to future stings.

The most effective way to avoid these symptoms is to do your best to keep wasps away yourself or contact the professionals for help. 

3. Systemic Reactions

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening type of systemic reaction caused by allergies. Anaphylaxis and other systemic reactions affect the body’s other functions, including heart speed and rhythm, breathing, and blood pressure. 

If you or someone nearby has a systemic reaction or anaphylaxis, call 911 for an ambulance and go to the emergency room for medical treatment.

Symptoms of anaphylaxis can include:

• Severe swelling around the face, lips, or throat
• Swelling in other areas of the body
• Wheezing and difficulty breathing
• Lightheadedness
• Red rash, which could be itchy and may include welts or hives
• Passing out
• Tightness in the chest
• Difficulty swallowing
• Hoarse voice
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stomach cramping
• Pale or redness in the face and body
• Weak or fast pulse

Everyone who’s had a systemic reaction to wasp stings, like anaphylaxis, should always carry a fresh, unexpired epinephrine injection or EpiPen as prescribed by a doctor. Epinephrine, or adrenaline, is known as the survival hormone because it will stabilize your heart, return your breathing to normal, and lower your blood pressure during a systemic reaction.

There are more things you can do if you or someone near you experiences anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock.

Treating a Wasp Sting

Hornets, yellow jackets, paper wasps, honey bees (including Africanized bees), and fire ants all have slightly different poisons in their stings, but they all affect humans in similar ways. So, there’s no need to stress about which type of insect did the stinging — it’s best to focus on treatment.

None of the following methods will save someone from a systemic reaction. If you experience anaphylaxis, call 911 for immediate emergency medical care.

When the symptoms are not life-threatening, most wasp stings are treatable in your own home. The products and materials listed here can be purchased online or at a local pharmacy. 

Step-By-Step Wasp Sting Treatment

1. Clean the site of the sting to prevent infection. Lather soap on the area, gently scrub and rinse thoroughly under cold water. Carefully dry off with a clean towel without irritating the skin further.
2. Use a cold pack on the site, but be careful not to freeze the skin. Remove the ice about every 20-30 minutes to make sure the skin hasn’t lost blood circulation.
3. Use a bandage if you’d like. Don’t use adhesive bandages because they can irritate the skin further.
4. Change the bandage frequently to avoid infection.
5. Take medications to help reduce your pain, swelling, and itching.

Over-the-Counter Medicine

These medications are specifically designed to help reduce swelling, itching, or pain that wasp stings can cause. Always follow the instructions when taking medication.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines are meant to reverse the effects of a chemical the body produces called histamines. Histamines cause you to sneeze, your eyes to water, your nose to run, and your skin and other tissues to swell. Some antihistamine medications also contain decongestants, which help reduce swelling in the sinuses.

Common over-the-counter antihistamines include:

• Benadryl
• Allegra
• Zyrtec 

Topical Creams

Hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion both are designed to soothe irritated skin. Another product called Caladryl can be helpful, as it’s essentially a combination of calamine lotion and Benadryl. Just be careful not to use both Benadryl and Caladryl at the same time.

Pain Medication

Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin), ibuprofen (like the Advil brand), and other NSAIDs help ease your pain and reduce inflammation. Be sure to follow the directions for these as well.

Other Remedies

These suggestions won’t decrease your reaction to wasp stings without being combined with proven medicines and practices. However, they can be effective to help soothe your skin.

Colloidal Oatmeal or Baking Soda may help to soothe skin irritations. Simply add some baking soda or colloidal oatmeal to warm bathwater and soak in the water. Colloidal oatmeal is also sold as a topical cream that can be applied to the skin.

Vinegar could help limit some of the effects of wasp venom. The idea is that the acid in vinegar might react with the alkaline components of wasp venom and neutralize their effects, similar to the reaction of baking soda and vinegar.

Simply soak a cotton ball in white vinegar or apple cider vinegar and press it to the site of the sting. The pressure should help reduce the pain and inflammation. 

Vinegar will not work against bee stings, which are also acidic.

The Difference Between Wasp Stings and Bee Stings

Since wasp and honeybee venoms are very similar, the symptoms are often the same. Honeybees often inject all their venom at once, whereas wasps inject small amounts with each sting. Because of the differences in chemical composition, honeybee stings tend to create more histamines in the body than wasp stings do, so they are more likely to cause an allergic reaction. However, some people have stronger allergic reactions to one type of sting than the other.

While a wasp stinger is straight, a bee stinger is barbed. When a wasp stings, it can remove the stinger and sting repeatedly. When a honeybee stings, the stinger gets caught in the skin and the bee pulls itself away, leaving behind a special venom sac with muscles that continue to pump venom into the victim.

Remove the stinger from your skin using a flat, blunt instrument, such as long fingernails, a credit card, or a dull knife. Do not try to use your fingers, which will only push more venom into your skin. 

What if I’m Stung While I’m Pregnant?

If you are stung during pregnancy, the venom is unlikely to hurt your baby. However, a serious allergic reaction is definitely a cause for concern. If you have anaphylaxis while you are pregnant, an epinephrine injection could save you and your baby. 

When your reaction to the sting is minor or moderate, the medications listed above are unlikely to affect your baby during pregnancy. However, some antihistamine products also contain decongestants, which pregnant women should avoid.

Consult your doctor for additional information and advice about what to do to treat wasp stings during your pregnancy.

What if My Child is Stung?

Since they are often unaware of the dangers of wasps and bees, children and toddlers can be highly susceptible to stings. Reduce the risk of your child stepping on a wasp or bee by ensuring that they wear shoes when they go outside. Educate your child about the dangers of wasps and what to do if one comes too close or stings them. 

If your child reacts severely to a sting, go to the emergency room.

Virtually all the medicines listed above have been thoroughly tested and provide instructions for safe dosage amounts for children under a certain age. Alternatively, many medicines have also been developed specifically for children, such as Advil for children.

Discomfort from moderate reactions should disappear naturally. However, you may want to talk to a doctor if the reaction continues or if your child is too uncomfortable to sleep.

Professional Wasp Removal

You may be able to reduce your risk of getting stung around your home by using these DIY methods to treat and prevent wasps. But if you see wasp infestations every year, or if you are severely allergic, call a trustworthy professional to take care of you with an effective solution.

Fox Pest Control is the perfect way to remedy wasp problems and protect your family. Our Pest Pros provide excellent services by creating a custom-made treatment plan specifically designed to meet the needs of your unique situation.

Our family and pet-safe, environmentally-friendly products can restore your peace of mind. Allow Fox to take care of the pests for you so you can focus on what matters most.

Fox Pest Control. No Bugs. Simply Better.

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What is the Wasp Life Cycle?

With their nasty appearance and painful sting, no wonder these pests are considered one of the most frightening! 

Here are a few things about wasps to help you understand them better so you can avoid getting stung in the future. 

A Word of Caution

If you’ve discovered them hiding under your siding or in the soffits, never try to get rid of wasps on your own. The wrong treatment process could cause the wasps to dig deeper into the house until they burst through the walls and start to sting people. 

At Fox Pest Control, we’ve seen hundreds of wasp cases. Sometimes, the wasps dig into a person’s house in order to safely hide the queen. Other times, the workers are desperate to find a place to hide from the cold. But unfortunately, wasps can also break in when a homeowner tries to get rid of wasps by themselves. 

Especially if you think wasps might be under the house siding, in the soffits, or nesting too close to the house, don’t hesitate to call Fox Pest Control.

How long do wasps live?

• Average worker wasps live between 12-22 days, depending on the species
• Drones, which are fertile males, generally live slightly longer than workers
• Queens typically live around 1 year

The Winter

During the winter, the queen wasp stays hidden from cold weather. She remains in a kind of insect hibernation called “diapause” until the weather is just right.

Common Queen Wasp Hiding Spots:

• A hollow log
• A special underground burrow
• Thick tree bark
• Inside gutters
• Under siding
• Behind brick facades
• Under roof tiles
• Inside soffits

The Spring

When the weather warms, the queen wasp is completely by herself. She has a strong drive to produce eggs and start a new generation of wasps.

During the spring, the queen wasp:

• Emerges from her hiding place
• Feeds herself
• Builds a small nest
• Raises a small brood that eventually helps her with daily tasks
• Is the only one involved with every task

The Summer

As the year progresses, the nest changes significantly. Eventually, there are enough workers in the nest to take care of all the responsibilities except for laying eggs. In many species, the queen is only allowed to live if she produces enough eggs.

During the Summer:

• The old queen dies, either of natural causes or the workers of some species will kill her when she doesn’t produce enough eggs. Brutal, but true.
• In some species, the workers give special food to 2 or 3 of the newest eggs or larvae so they become new queens.
• The new queens hatch and fight one another for dominance. If one queen hatches before the others, she will kill them before they can claim the throne.
• If more than one royal survives, one of the queens will dominate the nest and the others will leave and start their own hives.
• This process is repeated throughout the season multiple times (depending on the wasp species).

The Fall

Fall and winter mean death for wasps in areas where the plants shed their leaves and flowers for the winter. This causes mayhem for the hives and forces the wasps to prepare quickly for winter. 

• The workers have a strong instinct to continuously look for food until they die, which makes them more and more aggressive as food sources start to run out.

• After the last batch of eggs hatches, the newest queens search for a mate and store their sperm in their bodies until the next year.
• When there are no more eggs, the workers lose their sense of purpose and spend all their time looking for food. In this state, the wasps become highly agitated and easily provoked. This is when they divebomb into soda cans, raid picnics, and sting at random.
• As the weather cools in September and October, the last surviving workers find a place for the queen to hibernate until early May. 
• Depending on the species, the queens hibernate together or separately. 
• Eventually, the last worker wasps die of old age, extreme temperatures, or lack of food in late September or early October, after the queens have begun their hibernation.

As fall approaches, you have probably seen an increase in wasp activity around your house. These flying insects are best known for their paper mache-style nests and their painful sting, but they’re actually a very complex and intelligent species. Learn more about wasps with these fascinating (and actually terrifying) wasp facts.

5 Fascinating Wasp Facts

1. Can We Thank Wasps for Modern Paper?

Paper wasps have been making their nests by chewing up scraps of wood and mixing it with their saliva, before shaping it into their hexagonal-shaped nests. For hundreds of years, humans were making paper out of mostly cotton and linen and experimented with other plant fibers. In the 1700s, paper usage increased dramatically as the first newspapers and magazines came into print, and soldiers began using paper to wrap musket balls and gunpowder. This caused a shortage of paper, and it was time for a new and improved paper. In 1719, the French scientist, René Réaumur, came up with a solution. “Look at North American wasps — what you and I call paper wasps. They make fine paper for their nests by chewing up wood and exuding it. And if they can do that, why can’t we?” While he did not invent a new paper himself, his idea was the spark that brought us what we call paper today. In the late 1800s, after experimenting with various fibers, papermakers began creating wood pulp and mixing it with water before being flattened and dried to make paper. Should wasps be recognized as the first papermakers?

2. Wasps Remember Faces

Studies with paper wasps have shown that they have similar facial recognition capabilities to humans. Humans use holistic facial recognition, meaning we see faces as a whole, instead of as individual features. Scientists have theorized that wasps do the same thing. They tested this theory by creating two similar pictures of wasps, where the legs, body, and antennae were identical, but the faces were different. They showed the wasps these pictures, giving the wasps a mild shock to create discomfort when showing the “bad guy” and no discomfort when showing the “good guy”. After doing this a few times, they let the wasps fly toward either picture, and the wasps chose the “good guy” every time. This proved that wasps can recognize faces. They then showed only part of each face and the wasps became confused about which picture to fly towards. This proved that wasps have holistic facial recognition, similar to humans. 

3. Killing a Wasp Alerts His Friends

In studying wasps, researchers have found that wasps will alert others to a threat. When a wasp is injured or killed, they release pheromones that other wasps recognize as a threat in the area. This is why when you kill a wasp it seems like others begin to swarm around and seek revenge. Although there is no science backing the concept that wasps actually seek revenge, it has been proven that they will rally together to protect their territory and colony.

4. Wasps Have an Oligarchy, Not a Monarchy

While it is common knowledge that bees and ants have a queen, it’s a lesser-known fact that wasps have a group of Foundresses. They come together to create a colony and begin their reign. Each of these female wasps serves a similar role to a queen, and they compete to be the alpha reproductive member of the colony. This organization helps increase productivity and chances of survival. Most colonies consist of 100-200 members and no size dimorphism exists among wasps between foundresses and workers.

5. What are Wasps Good For?

People often ask themselves what wasps actually do, besides sting and ruin a nice day by the pool (read more about wasp control for your pool here). Wasps are actually an important part of the ecosystem.

Here are the good things that wasps do:

• Control caterpillar and beetle populations
• A small colony can eat up to 3,000 mosquitoes, flies, and spiders each day
• They pollinate flowers, although they do not make honey
• Wasps carry and transfer yeast by eating rotten fruit and feeding it to their young

Are We Wiser Than Wasps?

Just how smart are wasps?

According to a study done last year at the University of Michigan they are smarter than we thought. It turns out they use a form of logical reasoning. For thousands of years we thought only humans were capable of such thinking.

It has only been more recently that we have come to see that a few animals are capable of transitive inference, and paper wasps are one of them. What this means is that paper wasps can “deduce that if Item B is related to Item C and Item C is related to Item D, then Item B must be related to Item D.” (Oxford Handbook)

That is some pretty complex thinking! It might make you wonder who is smarter, you, or a wasp?

Which is True? 

• A.) A wasp will die after it stings you. 
• B.) A wasp can sting you over and over again. 

True or False: In the cold weather that comes with fall, all the wasps die except for a few new queens.

Which of these inventions was inspired by wasps?

• A.) The Vespine Surgical Needle
• B.) Paper
• C.) FlyCroTugs (flying, micro, tugging robots)

Answer Key

1. True
2. True. Paper Wasps, Yellow Jackets, Mud Daubers, and Bald-Faced Hornets are all types of wasps.
3. All are wasp nests! Paper Wasp Nest, a Wasp Nest in the Ground, and a Mud Daubers Nest.
4. A.) Is not true. It is true of bees who have barbed stingers, but it is not the case with wasps.
   B.) True. With a smooth stinger they can sting repeatedly without losing their stinger.
5. True. “A queen starts a new colony each spring. She raises a few worker wasps first to make the nest larger and bring food. Then she starts laying eggs. A colony can grow to 50,000 wasps in one summer. In the fall, all the wasps die except for a few new queens. The new queens spend the winter in an old log or burrow. In the spring, they make new colonies.”
6. All of these inventions were inspired by wasps! 

The Vespine Surgical Needle - “Based on the design of the wasp’s needle, researchers in the Netherlands created a new kind of surgical tool, which could be used to remove blood clots or tumors, perform laparoscopic surgery, and even deliver medicine with pinpoint accuracy.”

Paper -Thanks to observations of vespid wasps, we have the modern pulp and paper industry, which began in 1719 due to the persistence of French naturalist and physicist Antoine Ferchault Réaumer. 

FlyCroTugs- “The natural world inspired FlyCroTugs. Hoping to have an air vehicle that was fast, small, and highly maneuverable but also able to move large loads, the researchers looked to wasps.
“Wasps can fly rapidly to a piece of food, and then if the thing’s too heavy to take off with, they drag it along the ground. So this was sort of the beginning inspiration for the approach we took,” says coauthor Mark Cutkosky, a professor of mechanical engineering.” 

Why You Should Be Wary of Wasps

• Wasps can be aggressive, especially when you disturb their nest.
• A wasp sting hurts! And they can sting you multiple times as they have a non-barbed stinger that doesn’t come off when they sting.
• Wasps live everywhere except Antarctica. 
• For people who are allergic to wasp stings it can be serious and even fatal to be stung.

Signs of Wasps

Sightings – The first sign of wasps that people notice are actual wasps flying around the house, yard, or garden. They might hover around flowers, tree blossoms, and gutters.

Visible Nests – Some species of wasps make nests above ground in trees, hanging in soffits, or on poles. These nests can range in size from a pingpong ball to a basketball, depending on the species.

Hidden Nests – Some wasp species make nests underground, under house siding, or inside soffits. These can be especially difficult to find because the only sign of them is wasps flying in and out of their nests.

Need Wasp Control? Call Fox Today

Getting stung by even a single wasp can seriously ruin your day. Especially if you are allergic to wasp stings, the results can be dangerous. 

Fox Pest Control has dealt with hundreds of wasp problems, and we know what to do. You never have to feel like you need to take care of wasp issues by yourself. 

Our Pest Pros have all the tools and experience needed to get rid of the problem so you feel safe and comfortable in your home again. 

Our products are specifically designed to get rid of these pests so that you can concentrate on what matters most. Our exceptional Fox Pest Control Technicians are able to eliminate and outsmart your wasp infestation.

If you call Fox Pest Control at (855) FOX- PEST or contact us to schedule a visit from one of our certified technicians it is a sure sign you are wiser than a wasp.

Wasp removal can be dangerous and should be handled by a professional with the equipment and experience needed to be safe and ensure a thorough job. We are ready to assist you in handling any wasp problems. 

Click here to receive a $50 coupon on wasp control today.

Fox Pest Control.

No Bugs. Simply Better.