We have all had the unfortunate experience of coming face to face with a wasp. How we react when this happens all depends on our past experiences and stories told to us by family members and friends. In most cases, a close encounter with a single wasp results in hesitancy, caution, and sometimes fear. However, encounters with swarms of wasps are much more terrifying and usually involve running and a fair amount of panic. That said, what are some practical ways to keep wasps and other stinging insects off of properties? Here are some tips and tricks our experts suggest you use to reduce the number of wasps around your outdoor living areas.

What Species Of Wasps Live In Winston-Salem?

Before we talk prevention, let’s do a quick rundown of the kinds of wasps that live in our area and the threat each of them poses. 

  • Mud Daubers: Mud daubers are solitary wasps that build small mud tubes. These apartment-like tubes are build side by side on the sides of structures and trees. As for threat level, mud daubers are not known to be aggressive and will only attack if they feel directly threatened. Their sting is rated a 1.0 out of 4.0 on the Schmidt Pain Index. 
  • Yellow Jackets: Yellow jackets are species stingers that live in large nests made out of chewed-up wood and paper. These pests are considered to be more aggressive and become even more so during the late fall as their queens prepare for winter. A yellow jacket’s sting is rated 2.0 on the Schmidt Pain Index.
  • Hornets: Hornets are large wasps that live in round nests that hang from trees and from the sides of buildings. Despite their larger size, hornets are not terribly aggressive and will only sting when confronted or if they feel their home is in danger. A sting from this pest is rated 2.0 on the Schmidt Pain Index.

Now that you have a better understanding of what wasps live in our Winston-Salem service area, here are some quick ways to make your property less attractive to these pests.

Keep Things Clean

Wasps live on a diet of fruits, berries, insects, and other sweet and or meaty foods. To remove these attractants from your property, pick up fruits and berries that drop into your yard, clean up thoroughly after outdoor gatherings, and avoid feeding your pets outdoors. To go above and beyond, consider removing budding plants and flowers from your yard.

Seal Your Home’s Exterior

Having wasps on your property is bad. Having these pests inside your home is worse. To keep these stinging insects outside, here are some exclusion tips to use.

  • Seal gaps and cracks in your home’s exterior foundation.
  • Repair damage to window/door screens.
  • Address problems with weather stripping and door sweeps.
  • Keep unscreened windows and doors closed when they are not in use.

Fill In Holes

Certain species of wasps will sometimes build their nests inside holes and burrows constructed by other creatures. To deter these pests from doing this on your property, fill in any holes, trenches, or burrows you find in your yard.

What To Do If You Find A Wasp Nest

If you find a nest on your property, there is only one reliable option to remove it. That is to call the professionals at Ray’s Pest Control. Our team is licensed and equipped with the safety equipment to properly eliminate wasp nests around properties. With more than 45 years of experience, you can be sure that we are your absolute best choice for home and commercial pest control around Winston-Salem.