Lexington, Kentucky, is the second-largest metro area in Kentucky and offers a perfect balance between old-fashioned southern charm mixed with urban excitement. With lots of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks, it is a most inviting city. One resident that is not invited to this metropolis is wasps. While wasps may be beneficial to the environment, they can be dangerous. For effective pest control services in Lexington, let Action Pest Control help!
Uncovering The Secrets Of Lexington’s Wasps
While sometimes considered environmentally beneficial, most residents are not happy to have wasp nests built on their property. Because they can be dangerous, Lexington property owners need to identify what exactly is buzzing around their yard.
Wasps and hornets are from the same family Vespidae. The term "hornet" is generally used for species that nest above ground, though yellowjackets build occasional aerial nests but generally construct subterranean nests. Three common wasps and hornets found around the Lexington area are the Eastern yellowjacket, bald-faced hornet, and paper wasp. Being able to identify what species is in your yard is important in their management.
Descriptions of wasps in Lexington are as follows:
- Eastern Yellowjacket: The yellowjacket is black with yellow bands across its abdomen, and has a thin, smooth body that narrows at the waist. Regardless of where a yellowjacket nest is built, it will consist of a series of horizontal combs surrounded by a paper envelope.
- Bald-Faced Hornet: The black-faced hornet greatly resembles the yellowjacket but has a black body with a mostly white face. It is the largest of the wasp family. They build aerial nests that are grey and paper-like, but their nest is closed (unlike the open cone-like structure of other yellowjackets and paper wasps).
- European Paper Wasp: Similar in body shape to the yellow jacket, the paper wasp is a little slimmer with a thin waist. They are brown with yellow coloring. Different species share a similar brown and yellow coloration with have hints of bolder colors such as red, black, and yellow. Paper wasps build aerial comb nests that hang from objects with each nest having open, uncovered cells.
Five Tips To Deter Wasp Activity
Wasps are highly beneficial insects that pollinate and eat nuisance insects. While science might like them, most property owners want them gone. To do this it is important to focus on landscaping as well as making your Lexingthome less attractive to wasps.
The following are the top five tips for keeping wasps away from your property.
- Maintain Your Yard: Wasps are looking for the sweet stuff. An overabundance of flowers planted around your home will naturally attract wasps. Consider planting flowers unattractive to wasps. When planting a garden, plant it away from your residence. As with flowers, there are garden plants and herbs that are said to be unattractive to wasps.
- Maintain Fruit Trees: Fruit trees are “open season” for the wasp, especially the paper wasp and the yellowjacket. Fig trees are especially yummy. Make sure to pick up fallen fruit quickly.
- Yard: Fill in holes in your yard and establish plants and foliage that deter wasps.
- Home: Reduce harboring places for wasps by sealing cracks, crevices, and gaps around the property. Repair tears in screens and keep doors closed.
- Food: Keep food covered (especially when outdoors) and secure outside trash cans.
If you are utilizing these tips and still seeing a lot of wasps, it may be time for a safe alternative such as stinging insect control services in Lexington. Action Pest Control can help with safely removing wasps from your property.
How To Safely Remove Wasps From My Lexington Yard
Disturbing a wasp nest may have you visiting a hospital via an ambulance. Why leave it to chance? Action Pest Control has over 70 well-trained, state-certified pest management professionals who are ready and willing to safely dispose of your wasp nest. Reach out today for help with wasps, and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Lexington.