THE BUZZ ON GETTING RID OF WASPS & HORNETS

You're sitting outside.

• Perhaps on your deck with the BBQ fired up, ready to grill something delicious.
• Maybe at a park picnic table with your kids, who are impatiently awaiting a slice of juicy sweet watermelon.
• You may even be catching up with friends on a bustling restaurant patio, with a nice cold drink in hand.

You hear a buzzing sound close in.

You catch sight of something yellow and black flying in.

You think RUN!  

With wasp and hornet season upon us, it's easy to think that whatever has flown over is:

• fierce and mean
• ready to sting repeatedly
• not alone, and will soon by joined by an army of angry, sting-ready wasps

In fact, for many (especially those who are allergic), it only takes the sight or sound of a single wasp, hornet or even bee, to spoil an outdoor activity or event.

That buzzing sound, and those colours, do not mean a painful sting (or allergic reaction) is in your near future. 

Wasps & hornets (which are a type of wasp) are categorized as social or solitary. Social wasps live in colonies, are aggressive, and more likely to sting of they are provoked or feel threatened. Solitary wasps, in contrast, are anti-social, less aggressive, and often do not sting. They can sting, and will, if you mishandle them, but mostly they use their stingers for hunting prey.

What many do not know is that of the 30,000 identified wasp species in the world, the vast majority are solitary. Here in Ontario the most common types of wasps include:

• Yellow Jackets
• Paper Wasps (or Umbrella Wasps)
• Mud Dauber Wasps
• Bald-Faced Hornets

All of these wasp species are social, with the exception of the mud dauber wasp, which is solitary. This means that yellow jackets, paper wasps and bald-faced hornets are aggressive, and will sting if provoked or if their nest (colony) is being threatened. The yellow jacket is a concern as it may sting even if not provoked.

Having an active nest around your home, property or buildings is very concerning, especially this time of year, when wasp and hornet populations are large. In addition to seeking professional help to remove a nest, there are things you can do to help keep wasps and hornets away through wasp-hornet proof your home or business.

Check out our pest library to learn all about wasps and hornets, how infestations can happen, and what you can do to get rid of wasps, and get rid of hornets.