No one likesto be stung by wasps, bees or hornets and, for many, these stings can belife-threatening. If a person is allergic to stings from these flying insects,their throat could close up from the inflammation and they could go intoanaphylactic shock. Either of these events could easily result in death.
With this inmind, it’s crucial to understand the warning signs of an insect infection ifyou know you are allergic or have young or elderly people living in the homewho may be more vulnerable. Within this guide, we will cover all of the aboveas well as the risks you face, tips on how to prevent an infestation and whatto do if one strikes.
Some Signs That You Might Have an Infestationon Your Hands
The veryfirst sign that you might have a problem with wasps, hornets or bees is, ofcourse, seeing a number of these flying insects around your property. It’sperfectly normal to experience seeing bees and wasps flying around your home -particularly in the summer and particularly you have plants like rosemary orlavender in your garden. However, seeing an inordinate number of these insectsflying around your home probably means that you have a nest in or near yourproperty. If you’ve noticed that food or sugary drink near your home has veryquickly become a feeding ground for insects, then this is another indicatorthat you should be wary of.
Nestsdevelop over time so, if you have noticed a large number of flying insectsaround your home, it’s important to nip it in the bud. Nests are far easier todeal with in their infancy, so look out for odd structures that look as ifthey’ve been built by bugs - especially structures with hive-like hexagonshapes.
Fully grownwasp and hornet nests take on a papery look with one or more entrance holesleading into the structure. You’ll often discover that these nests find theirhome in the attic, under your roof, in your shed, in the garage, near a treetrunk or behind some outdoor shutters. If you notice a large or small nest,you’ll need to seek out some help. However, to avoid that situation entirely,below are a few tips to control the risk of a pest infestation.
Pest Control Tips Before an Infestation Strikes
As we’vesaid, it’s crucial to do everything you can to prevent an infestation before itgets too intense to control and there are a number of things that you can do tohelp the situation. From being creative with some DIY products to being morecareful with how you dispose of food, here are some tips.
First ofall, there are some habits that you should get used to when trying to ward offwasps, hornets and bees from nesting. Most obvious of these is to keep yourwindows and doors closed as much as possible which will prevent wasps, hornetsand bees from entering your property. Secondly, ensuring that any rotting fruitwhich has fallen outside of your home is picked up and that all bins areproperly secured will stop these flying insects from being attracted to yourhouse.
Wasps feedon sugary food and drink, so it’s essential to ensure that any rotten fruitthat is littering the garden is picked up straight away and disposed ofproperly. As well as this, you’ll need to keep an eye out for any holes orcracks in your walls or roof as these can be popular entrance points for wasps where they may start building a nest.
There aresome products that you can make yourself which can help to stem the flow ofyour infestation and control pests. The areas around your home which are mostsusceptible to a wasp infestation are inside the roof, in the garage, in a shedand in any other covered or protected areas like a window frame or under aporch.
In theseareas, you can help to dissuade wasps from taking over by applying wasprepellent serums to the timber found there. Using either a shop-bought orhomemade solution in these areas is a great way to prevent wasps from landing.You’ll need eucalyptus oil, menthol and citronella oil as well as teak oil forthe application.
Inspect Your Property and Make Amendments
As well ascreating home-made products to ward off insects, there are a number of otherchecks and maintenance tips you should also consider. For example, double-checkfor any holes in your loft which should be patched up. As well as this, try tointegrate light sources where possible. Adding light to smaller spaces wherewasps are likely to take residence can help to discourage pesky insects; just asimple low-wattage light will suffice.
Out in thegarden, a telltale sign of wasps making a nest is looking for ‘white tramlines’which indicate that a queen wasp is stripping your furniture to use it to builda new nest. Crucial to preventing these wasps is performing regular checks.During these checks you should look for underdeveloped nests and some of theabove signifiers. If a nest is still smaller than a tennis ball, you canprobably dispose of it alone but once it gets larger you’ll need the advice ofexperts.
Finally, asyour garden is likely to be where a wasp nest emerges, there are some generaltips and tricks to stop them from getting into your home. Wasps are attractedto sweet-smelling plants like lavender and rosemary, so refrain from plantingthese too close to your property. If you have the space, opt for an areafurther away towards the back of your garden instead of near your home. Waspsand hornets are also attracted to fruit trees, as they provide them with sugaryfood, so, again, try and plant these trees further back from your home toprotect yourself.
The Importance of Swift Hornet, Bee and WaspNest Removals
If you everdiscover that a swarm of wasps or hornets have made themselves at home in yourproperty, it’s crucial to talk to a professional and seek a solution. Somespecies can be deadly in large numbers and, if you haveanyone in your home who is particularly vulnerable from age or allergies, theresults can be terrible.
Never try toremove a developed nest by yourself and always seek the advice of an expert.
Mr Wasp: Pest Control Experts in South Wales
Mr Wasp hasover four decades of experience helping our customers to deal with wasp, hornetand bee problems efficiently and affordably, making us one of the leading pestcontrol companies across South Wales. Whether you’re a homeowner or a business,finding out that you have an insect issue can be a worrying and scaryexperience and a problem that you’ll want to get seen to as soon as possible.
When facedwith a total infestation, you’ll need to work with humane and efficientextermination experts to ensure your safety as well as the safety of yourproperty. If you find an infestation at your home or business, don’t hesitateto seek advice and a solution. Some of the horror stories that we have worked on shouldillustrate how important the process is.
To find out more about our pest controlservices, don’t hesitate to contact us today. You can visit us at our Cardiff head office at114 King George V Dr N, Cardiff CF14 4EJ, call us on 029 2075 4796, email us at mr.wasp@btconnect.com or visit one of our other offices in eitherBridgend, Barry, Newport, Chepstow, Pontypridd, Merthyr or Pontypool.
