November and December are the best months to safely eliminate wasps that have built their cozy nests in your walls, roof, shed or in the branches of your tree. A huge wasp nest in your home threatens your children every time they go outside to play? Are you worried about them getting stung or having the bad idea to annoy them? Don’t close off your yard right away because your team at
pest management experts BRISEBOIS EXTERMINATION
team, working in the greater Montreal area for over 30 years, presents 7 tips and tricks to get rid of a wasp swarm at home.
1- Wasps are real workers, do not delay to act
By inspecting your home’s construction and outdoor environment in early summer, you may notice the presence of a paper wasp nest. Even if it’s small, don’t waste too much time finding the best solution to your wasp infestation problem because while you’re thinking about it, they’ll continue to grow their nest a little bigger every day.
2- Wasps hate the cold, freeze them
If you have to move a wasp nest in the winter, there is no need to worry since the tenants will all have perished due to lack of food or cold. Only the queen is probably somewhere in semi-hibernation, but she will have left her nest which she considers too cold for winter.
To remove a wasp nest in Quebec, cover it with a plastic bag and unhook it from its attachment. You can use this same method to eliminate a nest in the summer, but follow these precautions:
- Act in the dark, the wasps will be less active
- If you need lighting, use a red light to avoid alarming the colony of workers
- Protect yourself with long clothing
- Stay calm and avoid sudden movements
- Put the wasp nest in a plastic bag and freeze it for 48 hours
If the thought of having to deal with a swarm of angry wasps scares you to death, we will be happy to take care of your home wasp problem. Our
AQGP certified professionals
will use the most up-to-date and environmentally friendly methods to ensure a safe environment for your family.
3- Wasps alarm their allies, do not crush them
When removing or moving a wasp nest or when you come across a wasp strolling by your Sangria punch, don’t try to swat it. You would only alert the rest of the workers who will come presto illico to the rescue of their savagely killed fellow bee.
4- Wasps hate to feel threatened, watch out for stings
Unlike bees, which sting only once and take their own lives in an absolutely tragic way (they detach their abdomen from their body…), wasps will have no trouble stinging you, and stinging you, and stinging you, again and again.
Since their sting injects venom into the victim, which can in very rare occasions lead to death by extreme allergic reaction, we advise you to consult a doctor or an emergency service immediately if you experience any unusual symptoms after a wasp sting. It is normal to see redness and to feel a sharp pain at the time of the attack. The sensation will subside after a few hours, you can apply ice or a mixture of baking soda and water (until you get a paste) to reduce the pain.
5- Wasps love perfume, avoid excessive coquetry
No one will blame you if you didn’t prepare like a fairy tale prince or princess for your annual family BBQ. Perfume, aerosol hairspray, beard lotions and any scented beauty products you use to look your best will also attract your new yellow and black friends.
6- Wasps love waste, put away your food scraps
Sweet and protein foods are a real treat for foraging wasps. Don’t leave food scraps lying around outside and make sure your garbage cans are tightly closed at all times. If not, you’d better ask your spouse to take out the garbage for you, because it’s going to be a fight!
Should we tolerate cohabitation with wasps?
No one likes to have a wasp nest growing and threatening your peaceful summer afternoons. If you don’t provoke them, know that the wasps will not try to attack you. They act more often under threat.
If possible, it is best to tolerate their presence as they are most certainly beneficial to our ecosystem. By devouring tons and tons of pests, the wasp contributes to the success of your vegetable garden and ensures pest control.