Effective Pest Control for Wasps: Ultimate Guide

Not 10,000, not even 50,000, but a staggering 100,000; according to the National Aquarium, that’s the number of known wasp species worldwide!

Wasps are undeniably beneficial to the environment, as they’re pollinators and can help control other pests. However, they can also be harmful to humans and other animals, given that they can sting. Not only are their stings painful, but they can also be dangerous, especially to people with insect allergies.

So, if you or anyone in your Seattle, WA, household fits the bill, implementing effective pest control for wasps should be a top priority. The experts at Eastside Exterminators have discussed safe wasp control methods and strategies for preventing wasp infestations in this guide, so please read on.

Correctly Identify Your Pest Problem

Accurate pest identification is one of the cornerstones of effective pest control as it allows for:

• Targeted and efficient management strategies
• Prevention of unnecessary costs (e.g., using incorrect removal or control methods)
• Mitigation of potential harm to humans and other animals, especially beneficial insects

Bees are a perfect example of beneficial insects that look like wasps and are often mistaken for them. Like wasps, bees are crucial pollinators that can benefit your garden. However, they’re less aggressive and usually only sting when provoked and threatened, while wasps can sting repeatedly and may do so unprovoked.

For proper identification, including details on what they look like, use Eastside Exterminators’ handy guide to wasps. Feel free to check out our pest library, too. The information there can help you identify and distinguish wasps from other insects.

Use Natural Repellents

As the University of California points out, the United States is home to about 91,000 species of insects. Many of these creatures call Seattle, WA, home, from aphids to caterpillars, flies, and spiders, and you can find them pretty much anywhere outdoors, such as your yard. They’re also crucial nutrient sources to wasps, which feed on them and the honeydew and nectar of plants and fruits.

With that said, your home is more likely to entice wasps if you have a lush yard full of plants, especially flowering ones. However, there are some natural wasp repellents you can add to your garden, such as:

• Citronella
• Eucalyptus
• Lemongrass
• Spearmint
• Thyme
• Wormgrass

Wasps dislike the smell of the above. Planting them around your garden and outdoor living spaces may help repel the stinging insects.

Avoid or Eliminate Wasp Attractants

The flowers and fruit-bearing plants in your garden are attractive enough to wasps, so you’d want to avoid adding anything else that could entice them to stick around, nest, and breed on your property. Some of the best ways to keep these stinging insects from invading your Seattle, WA, property include:

• Keeping food and beverages (especially sugary ones) covered when you eat outdoors or have picnics in your yard
• Cleaning up food scraps and spills promptly
• Ensuring all garbage cans have tight-fitting lids (to prevent wasps from getting attracted to and having access to food waste)
• Removing moisture sources, such as standing water (e.g., pooled water in clogged gutters, pet dishes, and outdoor toys)

The above strategies are also crucial to preventing many other pest problems in your Seattle home, such as rodent infestations (e.g., mice and rats). You don’t want rodents running around and breeding in your home because one, they can cause severe and costly property damage. Two, they carry and transmit many pathogens (disease-causing organisms) to humans and other animals.

For instance, according to the Washington State Department of Health, rodents, particularly deer mice, carry viruses that cause hantavirus in humans, which, although rare, can be a potentially fatal respiratory disease.

Keep Your Yard Clean

Maintaining a clean yard is another integral element to pest control for wasps, as it involves minimizing potential food and moisture sources. It’s even more crucial if you have fruit-bearing trees in your yard. Regularly clean up decaying fruit, which is highly attractive to these critters.

If you have pets, and they often eat outside, make sure to clean up soon after they finish. Their food scraps and leftovers can be alluring to many pests, from wasps to rodents, flies, and roaches.

Consider Partnering with Professional Wasp Exterminators

As mentioned above, wasps can sting repeatedly because, unlike honeybees, their stingers are smooth and don’t have barbs. They can withdraw their stingers without “injuring” themselves, allowing them to sting and inject venom again and again. Their venom is also generally more potent than that of bees.

All that, plus their more aggressive nature, are some of the things that make wasps “scarier” than bees. For these reasons, you should consider professional wasp nest removal for you and your loved ones’ safety.

Effectiveness is another excellent reason to invest in professional wasp extermination, such as the high-quality and prompt pest solutions we provide here at Eastside Exterminators.

At Eastside Exterminators, rest assured that our team consists only of highly qualified, trained, and skilled technicians. They have a deep understanding of pests common in the Seattle, WA, area, and will perform accurate pest identification.

Once we’ve correctly identified what’s bugging you, we’ll develop a personalized treatment plan, including:

• Nest removal options
• Residual, preventive, recurring elimination, and exterior insecticide treatments
• Family-friendly and eco-conscious measures

Plus, as one of the longest-established premier providers of pest control and management in the Seattle area, you can count on us to help you with other potential pest problems. Whether you have wasps, other stinging insects, spiders, rodents, roaches, flies, or fleas, we can help with all these (and more!).

Ready for Effective Professional Pest Control for Wasps?

Accurately identifying, using natural repellents, eliminating attractants, and keeping things clean are all crucial strategies to effective pest control for wasps. However, if you have a full-blown infestation and have a wasp nest in your Seattle, WA, property, it’s best to call the pros for help.

Let Eastside Exterminators provide you with prompt and effective pest control solutions. We’ve been delivering top-notch services to the greater Seattle area since our company’s establishment in 1969, over 50 years ago. We’re also proud to be a nationally certified and recognized firm and members of several organizations, including the Washington State Pest Management Association and the National Wildlife Control Operators Association.

Reach out today to request your non-obligatory quote!