Wasps are unwelcome and aggressive pests that many homeowners find challenging. However, it is helpful for homeowners to learn about wasp behavior to control and deter infestations. One of the main questions homeowners have about wasps is whether or not they are active at night.
While wasps are most active during the day and are known to sleep at night, it is still possible to encounter wasps after dark. Homeowners should know where they might see wasps at night to avoid them.
Luckily, you can avoid being stung by a wasp at any time of the day. While wasps can sting through thin clothing, wearing thicker fabrics and covering exposed skin is one way to avoid an unfriendly encounter.
If you have a wasp infestation on your property, leave it to the experts. Contact a wasp and bee control service if you have any issues with wasps.
Are Wasps Active at Night?
Homeowners need to understand wasp behavior to deter these unwanted pests effectively. One aspect of their behavior is that wasps like warm temperatures, so they are more active during the daytime. However, wasps still maintain some activity at night, which can be a problem.
Wasps rely on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature. They are also diurnal, meaning they are most active during the day and sleep at night.
With these factors in mind, it’s easy to understand why homeowners encounter more wasps during the day. When the sun is out, wasps search for food and tend to their nests. Homeowners are likely to find wasps in their gardens or near food and water sources, but some types live in the ground.
Most wasps retreat to their nests for the night when the sun goes down. Treating wasp nests at night is recommended because they sleep and will be less likely to sting.
However, it is still possible to encounter some wasp activity at night. Some species, such as hornets, remain active during evening hours. Many wasp species are also attracted to artificial light sources like porch lights.
While you are less likely to encounter wasps at night, homeowners should not count out the possibility. The best way to avoid an unfriendly meeting with wasps is to deter these pests altogether.
How to Deter Wasps
If you want to keep wasps out of your home, the best way is to deter them from getting inside in the first place. Seal up all potential entry points for these unwelcome guests, such as holes and cracks in the walls, doors, and windows. Wasps are tiny pests that do not need a large opening to enter your home, so conducting a thorough inspection and finding all their potential entry points is essential.
Next, remove any food sources that may entice a colony of wasps to your property. Wasps are particularly drawn to protein and sugar substances. Keep a tight lid on your garbage and compost bins. Do not leave food unattended outside. If you have a backyard party, cover the food and drinks to deter pests.
Wasps are also attracted to bright colors and floral solid scents. When you are outside, try to wear muted colors and neutral scents. Avoid heavily-scented perfume, cologne, or deodorant.
Keeping your yard neat will limit potential nesting sights for wasps. Remove debris from your lawn and keep your trees and vegetation pruned to eliminate hiding places.
Do not attempt do-it-yourself methods if you have a wasp problem on your property. The best way to deal with wasps known for stinging is to contact an exterminator pest control service. They have the experience and expert tools needed to get rid of wasps.
Can Wasps Sting Through Clothes?
Wasp stings are known for being painful and potentially causing allergic reactions. Luckily, you can take steps to avoid getting stung by a wasp. One common question homeowners have is whether or not wasps sting through clothes.
The answer is that wasps can sting through clothing, especially if the fabric is thin. For example, lightweight cotton and synthetic materials do not provide much resistance to a wasp’s stinger. These pests are also attracted to dark and bright-colored clothing.
While it’s impossible to guarantee that wearing specific clothing will prevent wasps from stinging you, there are clothing options that minimize the likelihood of being stung. Light-colored clothing like beige, khaki, or light blue will make you less attractive to wasps.
Wearing long pants and shirts with long sleeves can also deter wasps from stinging you. It’s best to wear snug clothes to eliminate gaps through which wasps can access your skin. Next, thicker fabrics such as denim and canvas are difficult for wasps to sting through. Thicker materials create a helpful barrier between the wasp and your skin.
Avoiding Wasps
Besides your clothing choices, there are other ways to minimize your chances of being stung by a wasp. For example, avoiding strong-smelling fragrances can help keep these pests away. That includes the scents from lotions, perfumes, hair products, and more. Wasps are particularly drawn to floral aromas.
If you are eating outside, cover all food and drinks as much as possible to avoid attracting wasps. Wasps are particularly drawn to sugary substances like fruit and opened soda cans.
If you are stung by a wasp, clean the area of your skin with mild soap and water and then apply an ice pack for ten minutes. If you have a severe reaction, contact a medical professional. Contact a pest control professional to control wasps on your property.
Do Wasps Pollinate?
Many homeowners are surprised to learn that wasps are pollinators like bees and butterflies. They are an essential part of the fertilization process for fruits, seeds, and plants. As they visit flowers searching for nectar, wasps inadvertently transfer pollen, which aids in fertilization. This process helps reproduce plants, ensuring the production of fruits, seeds, and new plants.
However, even though wasps contribute to pollination, that does not mean that homeowners want a wasp nest on their properties. Wasps are not known as “primary pollinators” like other insect species, and not all wasp species are effective at pollinating. Some wasp species have shorter hairs that prevent them from effectively transferring pollen.
Additionally, since wasps are aggressive pests that are quick to sting when they feel threatened, they are undesirable and unwelcome guests. Wasp stings can pose a safety risk to anyone in your family allergic to wasps.
Wasps also grow large colonies and are fierce defenders of their nest. The larger the wasp colony gets, the more aggressive the wasps become. They are particularly aggressive in the late summer and early fall, which are the times of the year when you and your family likely spend the most time outside.
Wasps build their nests in wall voids, attics, and eaves and require professional services to remove them to avoid more property damage.
If you have a wasp infestation on your property, do not try to remove it yourself. Since wasps are aggressive pests that will not hesitate to sting you when they feel threatened, it’s best to leave removal up to the pest control experts.
ABC Can Treat the Wasps on Your Property
Having wasps on your property can be frightening. Instead of trying to handle the problem on your own, contact ABC Home & Commercial Services. Our pest control professionals can offer advice on what attracts wasps, and we can effectively remove any wasps, including paper wasps, so you don’t have to worry about painful stings.