Many San Mateo residents have found themselves unlucky enough to experience the wrong end of an agitated wasp. These pests aren’t typically aggressive by nature, but they will vehemently defend their nests. Wasps do have their benefits and serve an important ecological role on this planet; however, that doesn’t necessarily mean you want to share your San Mateo yard with them.
If you are one of the many residents dealing with a wasp control issue on your property, it is recommended that you contact a local San Mateo pest control company. Wasp removal can be a dangerous undertaking without the proper equipment and knowledge. Pacific Pest Management has more than 17 years of experience with all types of pest control, including wasps. Don’t put yourself or your family at risk. Give us a call and we’ll take care of it safely and effectively.
The Life Cycle Of Common Wasps
Wasps have a fascinating and unusual life cycle. As you would guess, the queen is the crux of the whole process. She is the sole egg layer and initiates the construction of the nest. The female wasp mates with a male wasp in late summer to fall. She then stores the sperm and finds a safe haven for the winter.
Come spring, she will begin building the nest. She then lays her fertilized eggs in cells, along with insects for larvae nourishment. The larvae go through several molting phases, spin a cocoon, enter the pupal stage, and then hatch. This entire development process takes approximately three weeks.
Female worker wasps emerge from the cells and begin taking over the task of nest building. The queen continues to lay eggs in the new cells as the nest grows in size. The queen has no need to mate again. She uses the sperm from the fall mating session all summer. In late summer, she runs out of that sperm and lays unfertilized eggs that produce the male wasps. Those male wasps will seek out females to mate with and then die off. The female worker wasps will also die off, leaving only the fertilized females to begin the whole process all over again next season.
Why Wasps Around Your Property Can Be Problematic
There are several types of wasps that are a particular problem for Sam Mateo residents, including paper wasps, yellow jackets, and European hornets. These wasps pose a problem because they are classified as “social” wasps. They build large nests, known as colonies, that can hold several hundred wasps per colony. If these nests are disturbed, the female worker wasps will attack in swarms in order to defend their territory.
The person who is the target of this attack will undoubtedly suffer several, if not many, very painful stings. Those who are allergic to stinging insects can develop severe reactions to the venom that accompanies these stings. It is strongly urged that you leave any attempts at wasp nest removal in San Mateo to the professionals.
Five Eco-Friendly Wasp Prevention Tips For Around Your Yard
Wasp prevention is a key part of any wasp control solution implemented in your yard. It is also one of the few tasks that you, as a homeowner, can safely perform on your own. Aside from the commercial sprays and chemicals available on the market, there are several measures that you can take to make your yard less attractive to wasps:
- Trim your shrubs and trees on a regular basis to reduce the places for wasps to build nests.
- Wasps are pollinating insects. Reduce the number of sweet, aromatic plants in your landscaping theme.
- Remove pools of standing water from your property.
- Make sure trash cans that are stored outdoors are closed at all times and have a tight seal.
- Fill your garden with wasp-repelling plants like wormwood, spearmint, and marigolds.
These tips are useful not only for preventing wasps but also for preventing other types of insects and pests. Unfortunately, these don’t guarantee a completely wasp-free yard.
San Mateo's Secret Weapon To Total Wasp Control
The best solution for total wasp control or any pest control in San Mateo is to call Pacific Pest Management. Our friendly technicians are highly trained and equipped to provide you with safe wasp control. We have effective and affordable treatment and prevention plans to address any of your pest control needs.