What you need to know about wasps

Wasps are stinging insects that include yellow jackets, hornets, and other species. They’re sometimes confused with bees due to their coloring and appearance. While some wasp species have black and yellow coloring as honeybees and bumble bees do, they’re not the same. Mistaking a wasp for a bee can be dangerous since some wasps are known for being highly aggressive. They also have stingers that don’t fall out, which makes them able to sting people multiple times.

Social Wasps in Spring

Social wasps, such as the paper wasp, have a specific social structure within each colony. Queens come out of hiding when the weather gets warmer and lay their eggs. When the eggs hatch, the young mature into workers, who focus on building up the colony’s nest. These workers also make sure to care for the queen.

Wasp Behavior in Summer

As the temperatures climb even higher, wasp colonies continue to grow. They eventually end up with thousands of wasps, as the queen makes more and more reproductive cells. When these reproductive wasps are born, workers care for them and help them grow. When they’re old enough, the new queens and males leave to mate. The males do not live long once they have mated, which leaves the queens in charge of forming a new colony.

Fall and Winter for Wasps

Fertilized queens are the main wasps that manage to survive fall and winter. Most workers, the older queen and the males all die as temperatures drop. Wasps do not store food during winter, but the fertilized queens can accumulate reserves of fat. These reserves keep them alive throughout the fall and winter months. During this time, they find a safe area to hide until spring arrives. In some cases, this means entering houses and looking for hiding spots in walls and other areas.

The Cycle Continues

When temperatures warm up again, the fertilized queens begin the process all over again. They emerge from hiding, then find a place to lay their eggs and build a new colony. Keep in mind that wasps do not use the same nest as the previous year. They create a brand new one in a different spot.

Identifying Wasp Nests

How do you know if you have a wasp nest on your property? Knowing what to look for can help you spot one, so you can hire pest control services promptly. Wasps are typically more aggressive when their nest is threatened. This makes it dangerous to approach one and attempt to remove it yourself.

Wasp nests vary in terms of their appearance, depending on the species of wasp that builds them. In general, though, they typically have exposed cells where eggs and young lives. Some wasp nests resemble a balloon, while others have an opening on the bottom. In some cases, you might find a nest on the eaves of your home, a tree on your property or another outdoor structure. You might also find a wasp nest built on the exterior of your home near a window.

Some wasp species, including yellow jackets, build their nests on the ground, which can be harder to spot. Use caution when mowing your lawn or doing other outdoor activities, so you won’t accidentally disturb an in-ground wasp nest.

If you find a wasp nest near your house, don’t try to deal with it on your own. Contact Budget Brothers Termite & Pest for safe and reliable wasp removal in the Phoenix area.