Tips And Tricks For Keeping Your Reno Property Wasp-Free

Wasps are arguably one of the most feared flying insects on the planet. Some wasp species don't need a lot of provocation to become aggressive. If you see any type of wasp on your property, you should treat it with extreme caution, and you should never disturb a wasp's nest if you see one around your property. 

At Celtic Pest Control, our Reno pest control specialists are dedicated to keeping everyone safe from aggressive and dangerous wasps. Keep reading to learn the best ways to prevent wasps from hanging around your home. 

Characteristics Of Common Wasps

There are several types of wasps in Reno. While some wasps may look alike, they all have unique habits and behaviors that help you easily identify them. Some of the various types of wasps in Reno include:

• Paper wasp: These wasps are around ¾ of an inch long and have lean bodies with an extremely narrow "waist." They usually have brown bodies with yellow markings, but they can also sometimes have red markings. Paper wasps get their name from the unique way they build their nests. Usually, they create large aerial nests shaped like upside-down umbrellas and look like they were wrapped in paper. 
• Bald faced hornet: Despite its name, the bald faced hornet is actually a wasp instead of a hornet. They are social wasps that live in large colonies. Most of these wasps are about a ½ inch long. However, the bald faced queen wasps are usually bigger and can measure around ¾ of an inch long. They typically have black bodies with white markings. While their bodies are mostly black, their faces are almost completely white, which is where they get their name from. 
• Mud dauber: Mud daubers are solitary wasps. They are typically bigger than other types of wasps and can measure over 1 inch long. They have black or dark blue bodies and get their name from the way they build their nests out of mud. 
• Cicada killer: Cicada killer wasps are the largest wasps in this area. They can grow to measure around 2 inches long. Their bodies are usually black with bright yellow markings, and they have a pair of red-colored wings on their back. These wasps are incredible hunters, and as their name suggests, cicadas are one of their favorite animals to hunt and eat. Many times, the wasps will actually attack the cicadas while in flight. 

Some of the wasps on this list are more aggressive than others. Typically, social wasps tend to become aggressive when you get close to their nests. However, all wasps can sting you if they feel threatened. 

The Potential Dangers Of A Wasp Infestation 

Wasps can be territorial and will attack if they feel you are a threat to their nest. Wasps have venom inside their bodies that is injected into their victim's bodies when they sting. Usually, this venom is relatively harmless to humans and may cause pain and some swelling. However, if you are one of the many people allergic to wasp venom, you could experience trouble breathing, swallowing, or other dangerous symptoms requiring medical attention. 

Also, if you disturb a social wasp's nest, you could be stung by several wasps at one time. Even if you are not allergic to wasp venom, you could end up with severe symptoms after being injected with an excessive amount of wasp venom.  

Five No-Nonsense Tips To Prevent Wasps

If you see wasps swarming around your home, you should be cautious when you are outside, as there is a good chance that you have at least one wasp's nest on your property somewhere. Some of the things that you can do to keep wasps away from your property include:

1. Keep food covered when outdoors
2. Keep a lid on your outdoor trash cans at all times
3. Try to avoid wearing sweet-smelling shampoos and perfumes when outdoors
4. Address any insect infestations that you have around your home
5. Seal any gaps and cracks around your home and repair tears in the screens in your doors and windows

While wasps are meat-eaters that like to eat insects, they also prefer to eat sweet nectar that they collect from plants and flowers. If you have sweet-smelling foods or any other food that wasps like to eat readily accessible, wasps will want to hang out at your home. 

The Secret To Total Wasp Control For Your Yard

It can be extremely dangerous to deal with a wasp problem on your own. The safest way to get rid of wasps on your property is to let Celtic Pest Control's professional home pest control team handle the problem for you. We know how to remove wasps from your Reno property safely. Contact us today to get your free quote!