Summer time is backyard time. This means we can enjoy barbecues, gardening and other fun activities spent in the great outdoors. Nothing can sully a sunny afternoon like a yard full of yellow jackets though. Lately, it seems as if these pests are everywhere. They build nests in our decks, sheds, flowerbeds and even underground. They interrupt our picnics and playing, and they just get in the way. How does one defend one’s home against these annoying insects without becoming a stinging victim?
Wasps, such as yellow jackets, do serve a useful purpose. They aid in the pollination of flowers and eat small insects around our property. For most of us, however, the bad outweighs the good. Yellow jackets love sweets and meat. For this reason, you’ll see them hovering around picnic tables and garbage cans, making people nervous about approaching these areas. They’re also quick to sting and don’t always need a reason. Yellow jackets are social insects. Hundreds of these insects can live in one nest. Because of this, it’s best not to knowingly approach a nest in daylight. If the yellow jacket feels threatened it will aggressively defend its nest and call in reinforcements to help. Unlike the bee, yellow jackets don’t die after stinging and will sting repeatedly if they feel threatened.
There are several things you can do to discourage the yellow jacket from converging upon your property:
- In the beginning of the season, spray bushes and plants with an environmentally safe pesticide. This will cut off the yellow jacket’s food supply forcing them to look for a more profitable bit of property in which to do their hunting.
- Keep trashcans tightly covered. Yellow jackets are attracted to food smells.
- Throw away empty food and beverage containers and don’t leave used paper plates and cups lying around.
- Keep barbecue and picnic food covered.
- Try not to wear perfume, hairspray or any other sweet scent that can attract yellow jackets to your property.
If you want to rid your area of these pests, you must first locate the nest. If you’re not sure where the nest is located, try and observe the yellow jackets from a safe distance. These wasps usually build their nest in crevices in porches and decks or in the ground. For your own safety, don’t approach the nest.
Once the sun starts to go down is the best time to get down to business. Yellow jackets sleep at dusk, so it’s safe to approach the nest but you may still want to stand a few feet away. Spray the nest from a safe distance (at least five to ten feet away) preferably with a pesticide that will immediately stun the wasp. The next morning, all the wasps should be dead and you can remove the nest.
Before using any pesticide, it’s best to read the label to make sure the spray isn’t harmful to the environment, pets or humans. Be sure to follow all directions and take every necessary precaution such as dressing in protective clothing.
If yellow jackets are still a problem, or if your property seems to play host to more than just a few wasps, it’s time to bring in a professional exterminator. When facing a large army of yellow jackets, it’s best not to take any chances.
Don’t pour gasoline or other chemicals into underground nests. This is dangerous, illegal and not very smart. If the nest is in the cracks of your walls, don’t use caulk or foam (or anything else) to seal the crack. Yellow jackets can gnaw their way through sheet rock, wood and many other substances and may find their way into your home. It’s best to at least keep them on the outside of the house where they present less of a threat. If you have yellow jackets in the walls of your home, call an exterminator.
With the exception of some queens, the yellow jackets will die off once the weather gets chilly. They almost never reuse their nests. Don’t let a few yellow jackets force you to spend summer time indoors. Following a few precautions can discourage these backyard pests from paying your family a visit. Wouldn’t you rather enjoy the warm weather outdoors?
