You Might Need Pest Control for Wasps this Fall

Just because the kids are back at school and fall officially starts in less than a week doesn’t mean that wasps suddenly pack their bags and leave. These little guys are still causing problems in Northern Nevada and California’s Lake Tahoe region.

About Yellow Jackets and Paper Wasps

In April and May, Yellow Jacket and Paper Wasp queens start laying eggs. By August and September, there are so many mouths to feed that the worker wasps have to constantly scavenge for food. This is why you will still see wasps everywhere.

You may find them hovering around your car, looking to eat the insects attracted to any moisture on the car or crashing your picnic trying to snag some food. They will eat anything from greasy foods to sweet treats.

A Pest Control Story

A few days ago I received a frantic call from homeowners in Lake Tahoe who had wasps swarming their deck. When I arrived I began to inspect the home and property for wasp nests. I removed some small nests near the roofline, but there were still wasps everywhere!

The wasps were the worst on the third floor deck. I stood on the deck watching these pests come from every which way, and then I noticed that the BBQ grill had been used and was still covered in remnants of the last person’s dinner. The wasps loved this. Since I could not safely treat the BBQ, I had to think of a way to lure the wasps away from the grill towards me.

Let me tell you, this was no easy task. I put some attractant on a paper towel to entice the wasps. After letting the paper towel sit for a couple minutes the wasps began swarming the towel — by the hundreds! It looked like the wasps were coming from the trees, although I never saw a nest. They must have been really hungry! Once the towel was swarmed, I was able to appropriately treat the wasps.

What to Expect This Fall

By late September or early October, wasp queens look for shelter in logs or hollowed trees to hibernate and the rest of the colony dies. Sometimes the queen may reuse an old nest the following spring, so it is always best to have empty nests removed.

If you’re experiencing problems with wasps, contact Catseye Pest Control today!