Wasps

Social wasp colonies have a queen, who can reproduce and lay eggs, and many worker wasps. Some workers are fertilized and can reproduce, while others die off. Colonies may consist of anywhere from 25 to over 100 wasps throughout the season. Most social colonies are annual and die off at the end of the season.

Learn more: What is the purpose of wasps?

Every wasp starts out as an egg, but the method by which they are born depends on the species. A female social wasp will fertilize the eggs and they will hatch as workers, resulting in more reproductive males and females being born. Non-fertilized eggs will hatch into males and cannot reproduce. In the winter, the males die and the females hibernate and build their nests to start the process over again.

Solitary wasps lay a smaller amount of eggs since they have tinier nests, and parasitoids use a host, which is typically a spider, to lay their eggs and reproduce.

Learn more: How long do wasps live?

Wasps are attracted to sugary foods and foods that are high in protein. Most wasps are omnivorous and feed on a variety of different foods. They will feed on insects and spiders, but also love sugary and sweet substances, like fruit and nectar.

Most wasp species build their nests away from the elements, which is why they are often found in overhangs, eaves, roofs of houses, and trees. Wasps prefer to build their nests high in hard-to-reach areas to stay safe from predators.

Wasp species build different types of nests.

• Paper wasp nests are shaped like an upside-down umbrella and rarely get larger than six to eight inches across. They are home to a few dozen paper wasps.
   
• Yellow jacket nests are made of chewed wood fibers that envelop the nest into an upside-down teardrop shape. They start off at about the size of a golf ball and can get up to a few feet across by the fall.
   
• Hornets build their nests in tree branches and under eaves. Hornet nests can grow to be the size of a basketball, but they grow in proportion to the colony inside.

Learn more about wasp nests:

Wasp nest removal mistakes

Do decoy wasp nests work?

Wasps are aggressive when they feel threatened or when they are agitated. They become more aggressive later in the summer and into the fall as they are preparing for the winter and working to protect their queen.

Learn more: Where do wasps go in the winter?

Wasps search for food and the perfect place to build their nest. If you have wasps around your home, your property might offer one or both of those things. If wasps are getting inside your home, they are probably entering through tiny openings in the structure of your house or in your screens. Repairing these openings will lower your risks of having wasps indoors.

Learn more: Take back your home from stinging insects

When a wasp stings you it injects venom into you. This venom causes the pain you feel which is the wasp’s defense mechanism. Wasp stings are painful at first, but you may not see a mark right away. Soon after, the area may turn red and have some swelling. If swelling becomes severe, seek medical attention.

Unlike bees, wasps do not die after they sting you. Their stinger is designed to be used multiple times.

Learn more about stings: The essential guide to wasp.

There are DIY wasp control methods, however, we do not recommend attempting these methods to kill wasps. Wasps can cause severe pain with their stingers, so controlling them should be left to the professionals who have the right tools and equipment to eradicate them. Contact us if you have wasps on your property.