Have you heard the buzz around town lately? Sorry for the silly pun, but we couldn’t resist. You’ve probably noticed that bees and stinging insects have become a major pain lately, perhaps quite literally. What can you do about wasps and hornets around your home?

Before we answer that question, let’s back up and talk about the role of stinging insects in the environment. These guys are pollinators, so without them we wouldn’t have beautiful flowers and tasty fruits and vegetables to enjoy. So, we certainly don’t want to eradicate them from the planet, as much as they can be obnoxious and sometimes terrifying.

On the other hand, you do want to keep your family safe, and that’s understandable.

Stinging insects will rarely bother you, if you bump into one another in the garden. They’re generally just there to look for food, and aren’t feeling particularly territorial. However, they will defend their homes, sometimes viciously. And those are the stings you definitely want to avoid, because you can quickly get swarmed by multiple flying pests.

In other words, don’t worry about the occasional stinging insect in your yard. But you definitely want to discourage them from building their nests around your porch, patio, and other areas close to your home. Check around the exterior of your home, and remedy the following situations:

  • Look for entry points to exterior walls and roof lines, and close them up. Some stinging insects like to build their hives inside these areas.
  • Check around your yard for ground holes, and fill them. This will discourage ground nesters from moving in.
  • Reduce excess food sources. You probably don’t want to stop planting flowers, nor should you. But avoid leaving out extra temptations. Make sure your trash is securely sealed, and clean up promptly after backyard barbecues.

And of course, if you do find a nest or hive around your home, don’t disturb it! You will risk the wrath of hundreds of flying, stinging enemies. Instead, give us a call, and obtain professional pest control services to safely remove the source of the problem.