Wasps are winged insects with stingers, related to ants, bees, and sawflies. While they can serve valuable roles as pollinators and as consumers of more harmful or bothersome insects, wasps can also be pests, especially if you have an infestation on or around your home. To better understand these creatures, here's what you should know.

What You Need to Know About Wasps

What do wasps look like?

There are about 25,000 wasp species. In general, most are larger than bees, with four wings and yellow and black rings. They have skinny bodies and narrow waists. One notable exception is the bald-faced hornet, a type of wasp that is unfortunately common in this part of Texas. They have more stout bodies, black in color, with white markings on their faces.

Are they dangerous?

Wasps have venomous stingers, and they are extremely territorial, so they tend to be aggressive in defending themselves and their nests. This is especially true with bald-faced hornets, who have sentry-like members of the colony constantly standing guard around it; these members will dispatch the entire colony to attack when a threat is detected. Because their stingers are not barbed like those of bees, wasps can sting repeatedly, leaving significant pain and swelling in the area of the attack. If you are allergic to wasps, their stings can trigger serious, even life-threatening, reactions.

Where do they build nests?

Wasps often build nests in eaves, roof fascia, gutters, and tree branches; basically, any type of overhang will attract wasps and create ideal conditions for a nest. Some species may nest in the ground or in compost piles. A typical nest will last a season, and only the queens survive to establish colonies the next year.

What should I do have a nest on my property?

It's important to contact a pest control professional to get rid of the infestation. Wasps are not one of those creatures that, if you leave them alone, they will leave you alone. They have no qualms about attacking anyone they even remotely perceive as a threat, and they perceive most humans as threats. For the safety of your family and the peace of your home, make it a priority to have the infestation professionally eliminated.

Don't let a wasp infestation endanger the comfort and health of your household. All Gone Services has been serving the Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, region for over 20 years. Their pest control services include wasp, ant, termite, and cockroach removal and wildlife eradication. Call (817) 903-9109 to request a quote or visit them online to explore their residential services.