Should I knock down a wasp nest myself?
A small paper wasp nest you can reach from the ground is something many homeowners handle. Leave yellowjacket nests in the ground or walls, bald-faced hornet nests and anything above ladder height to a technician. Those colonies are bigger, defend hard and sting repeatedly, and ladders combined with stings cause real injuries.
The size of the colony is the difference. A spring paper wasp nest might hold a dozen wasps, while a late-summer yellowjacket nest in a wall can hold thousands that pour out at once. Protective suits, the right dust and a plan for where the wasps will fly are what keep a removal from turning into an ER visit.
Why are yellowjackets so aggressive in late summer?
By August, yellowjacket colonies are at their largest, and fewer young larvae need feeding as the nest shifts to raising new queens. Thousands of workers switch from hunting insects to scavenging sugar and meat, which puts them at trash cans, cookouts and open drinks just as nests are crowded and most defensive.
That is also when mowing, trimming and fall yard work disturb ground nests. If yellowjackets keep circling one spot in the lawn, mark it and keep the mower away until it is treated.
Cover drinks outdoors, keep trash lids closed and empty them often, and move hummingbird feeders away from doors and patios until frost.
What happens to wasp nests over the winter?
In Davenport, hard freezes kill off the workers, and only newly mated queens survive, tucked under bark, in wall gaps or in leaf litter. The old nest is not reused the following year. So a nest found in late October can often be left alone, while the same nest in July usually needs treatment.
Empty nests can come down any time after a few hard freezes. Queens that overwintered emerge on warm spring days and start new nests, often in similar sheltered spots, so a spring look at eaves and sheds catches them while they are small.
The Quad Cities pest calendar marks when nests usually start, when they peak and when an empty one can simply be knocked down.
What if the nest is inside my wall or attic?
Never caulk or plug the entrance of a nest inside a wall. Yellowjackets that cannot get out can chew through drywall or plaster and come into the living space. A technician treats the nest through the entrance with dust so returning workers carry it inside, and the gap is sealed only after the traffic stops.
Wasps showing up indoors near one light fixture, window or attic hatch are the usual clue. Keep that room closed, put a towel under the door and call.
When is a sting a medical emergency?
Call 911 if anyone stung has trouble breathing, swelling of the face, lips or throat, dizziness, or hives spreading beyond the sting, or if they carry an epinephrine injector for a known allergy. Many stings at once, especially on a child or older adult, also need prompt medical care. Pest control comes after everyone is safe.
For an ordinary sting, move away from the nest first, since alarm scents can draw more wasps. Then wash the spot and use a cold pack.
