Stinging Pests are Prepping for Winter dont let them in from the cold

yellow jackets eaten through wallI received a fairly shocking photo from a technician yesterday, a picture of yellow jackets that had eaten through a bedroom wall and were trying to build a nest indoors! I don’t know about you, but personally the thought of having a stinging pests nest INSIDE my house scares the heck out of me! I’ve never even considered such a thing possible. The closest thing I’ve experienced to such a situation occurred one day as I strolled towards our back door and looked over only to see a snake at eye level, having crawled up the brick wall! I still don’t know why it was there, but nonetheless, it was! Needless to say, I was quite startled. Still, at least the snake was outside the house and besides that, it was a simple black snake- a good snake to have nearby (though not that nearby).

So anyway, back to the photo. I know I’m repeating myself to some degree, going back to a previous post, but I must suggest- DON’T LET IT BE POSSIBLE THAT YELLOW JACKETS ARE BUILDING A NEST IN YOUR HOUSE! This is the time of year when stinging pest colonies are at their largest since they are working hard to prepare for colder weather by gathering food and such. You know the old saying, God Save the Queen!!! These pests are at their most aggressive as fall approaches and aren’t to be trifled with. Therefore, while they do their winter prep, you need to do yours.

In her Pestworld.org article, “Buzz Off: How to Protect Yourself from Stinging Insects”, Missy Henriksen lists and describes a number of precautions one should take to avoid getting the big sting. The first point she hits upon is:

“Seal cracks and crevices”

One effective way to prevent an infestation of these insects and most other pests is to eliminate access and harborage sites around of the home. Stinging insects often build their nests inside attics and chimneys, behind porch lights and under decks or eaves. Homeowners should seal all visible cracks and crevices to keep these pests from moving indoors, and regularly inspect around the yard and along the perimeter of the house for nests.”

While this humble author might not be the sharpest tool in the shed all the time (only part of the time), Ms. Henriksen seems to have her act together. So, if you decide not to listen to me, please listen to her! I can’t say that I know a whole lot about her but I do know this- she has a column on Pestworld.org and is referred to as “The Bug Lady”. So take our advice and make your home a bit less inviting than it would otherwise be. Seal those cracks and crevices. Then maybe YOUR HOME won’t be one that has yellow jackets flying out of the walls.

All that said, if wasps do come flying out of your walls, call the pros at Carolina Pest posthaste! We obviously have experience with such situations…very recent experience, in fact! Good night and good luck…

By Kristin Dodd

Kristin Dodd, the President of Carolina Pest Management, has been with the company full-time for over 20 years, but has been a part of the family-owned business for much longer. She is currently an active board member of the North Carolina Pest Management Association, and was the President from 2010-2011. She is a licensed operator in...

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