How to deter stinging insects from your home

Preventing stinging insects like wasps and bees from constructing hives in and around your home is difficult, especially when the locations they choose are inconspicuous or out of sight. House eaves, decks, playhouses, sheds, trees, shrubs, attics, underground, wall voids, fireplace flues, planters, barns, and garages are just some of the areas that are often overlooked—allowing a once small and non-threatening hive to become quite large and frightening. However, stinging insects don’t have to be scary. If you or your family experience a sting, and a bee sting left a hole in your skin, don't panic. With some helpful tips, expert advice and some industry insights, you are well on your way to decreasing you and your family’s risk of being stung. It’s time to take back your home and yard from stinging insects!

Identifying stinging insects

Why are stinging insects attracted to my house?

Stinging insects may be attracted to your home for several reasons; they are seeking shelter, food, or nest-building materials. Identifying why stinging insects are drawn to your home will help to reduce the likelihood of a face to face encounter.

Identifying risk factors

Shelter: Abandoned animal burrows and structures, as well as tree hollows and other covered areas, make for perfect shelters. Such places are often where stinging insects can become well established, allowing the hive and colony to grow in size.

Food: Wooded areas, overgrown landscaping, ponds, fountains, and pools attract other insects, providing the perfect meal for hornets, wasps and yellow jackets. Plants, trees and shrubs that produce nectar, as well as food composting piles and garbage, will also attract stinging insects.

Hive-building materials: Stinging insects that build paper-mâché like hives may gather their building materials from exposed and untreated wood such as wooden patio furniture, planter boxes, house siding, playsets, and more.      

Addressing any risk factors and decreasing your home’s overall appeal is a step in the right direction. However, employing a pest control company that specializes in stinging insect control may be a safer solution. A specialist can assess the situation, address any new or established hives and help to prevent stinging insects from returning—keeping you, your family and your pets out of harm’s way.

5 tips for preventing stinging insects from building nests in and around your home

1. Sealing off entry points into your home (attic, crawlspaces, under decks, etc.) will not only keep stinging insects out, it will keep other pests out, too.

2. Reduce, relocate or remove flowering plants, shrubs and trees from your property that are enticing to stinging insects. If you have an outdoor space for entertaining, i.e. a pool, sport court, deck, or patio, consider using landscaping that will repel bees and wasps, reducing your risk of being stung.

3. Paint or seal wood that has peeling paint or is unfinished, and store firewood away from the house. Decks, treehouses, playhouses, fences, furniture, planter boxes, sandboxes and houses provide excellent sources for hive building materials.

4. Standing water attracts insects on which stinging insects feed. Reducing standing water can help to reduce a hornet, yellow jacket and wasp’s food source.

5. Outdoor dining can instantly attract stinging insects. To deter them from eating your food, place stinging insect traps, creating a distant perimeter around the area. The traps can deter stinging insects from going after your food and beverages by offering an easy alternative. Once in the trap, they’ll be unable to fly out.

Whatever your situation, big or small, when it comes to stinging insects don’t take matters into your own hands and risk being stung. It’s time to take back your home and Ehrlich is here to help. Since 1928, we have provided effective stinging insect services and general pest control to satisfied residents and businesses in your city and all across the eastern United States. Give us a call at 1-888-984-0186 for a free estimate and to learn more about our services. 

Stinging insect FAQs

Are all stinging insects aggressive?

Some are — however, many are pollinators and will not sting unless provoked.

Are DIY treatments effective?

DIY sprays can aggravate the hive, resulting in an attack. It can also be ineffective and costly. Over-the-counter products might work short-term, but they can only address insects present at the time of treatment. Insects that are away from the nest during treatment will not be affected. Consequently, the problem persists.

What are some precautions to take when a hive is present?

Avoid hive areas in the afternoon, when activity is elevated. Early morning and late evening are when they are the least active. Never cross the direct path between the insect and entry into the hive, they will treat it as a threat to the hive.

Want to have a sting-free summer? Learn more in our article -- 'How to prevent stinging pests'.