Wasps In Edmond: What Every Resident Should Know

What Do Wasps Look Like?

As stated earlier, there are many different types of wasps in Edmond, and the first step to wasp prevention is understanding the different types and how to identify them. Below are some of the most common wasps you will find here:

• Paper wasp: Perhaps the most common species, paper wasps are between three-quarters and an inch long and usually red, yellow, brown, or black. About 75 paper wasps make up a nest.

• Yellow Jacket: Often found buzzing around garbage bins, yellow jackets are, unsurprisingly, yellow and typically have black stripes. 

• Cicada killer wasp: Looking a bit like yellow jackets, with their yellow bodies, the cicada killer wasp is significantly larger, growing up to an inch and a half in length. 

• Mud dauber wasp: These unique-looking wasps are black. The mud dauber wasp is also known for its pale markings and blue metallic luster or hue. 

How Dangerous Are Wasps?

The importance of professional wasp prevention cannot be overstated. Wasp stings are not only incredibly painful for you, your children, and pets, but you may also be allergic to them and not know it. A sting always results in a raised bump, and it typically burns and hurts. A normal reaction means that the swelling will recede on its own after several hours. If you are having a more severe reaction, the swelling and redness will increase after two or three days, and you can also experience nausea and vomiting. However, the worst-case scenario is that you are deathly allergic, resulting in anaphylaxis shock. Without immediate medical treatment, this can be fatal, especially for children. 

Natural Wasp Prevention Tips

The best way to get rid of wasps is to prevent them from setting up shop in the first place. Below are some prevention strategies you can implement to keep wasps from wanting to build a nest on your Edmond property:

• Take away the places where they like to build nests: Wasps of all types like building nests in holes and other similar sites. Cover up holes in the ground and replace or repair damaged walls, sidings, fence posts, or rails. 

• Fix window screens: Check all your door and window screens and make certain there are no tears in them. If there are, fix them, as this could be one of the ways wasps are getting into your house.

• Keep your yard clean: Make sure trash is properly stored in securely covered bins. Regularly clean up your yard and property of any debris, especially food waste.

• Grow specific plants: A natural way of repelling wasps is to grow plants they don’t like. Lemongrass, thyme, and basil aren’t just yummy; they are known to deter wasps and can be useful in your fight to prevent them from coming near your yard and home.

The Safest Form Of Wasp Control

While it may seem tempting to knock that wasp nest off the ceiling with a baseball bat or douse it in an over-the-counter spray from your local store, we do not recommend it. One wasp sting hurts and can cause a severe allergic reaction resulting in anaphylaxis shock; a swarm of wasps all stinging at once can be fatal. At Summit Pest Solutions, we have over 35 years of experience providing pest control in Edmond and dealing with wasp infestations. Let our expert technicians, who are armed with the proper tools and treatments, safely and effectively exterminate your wasp problem. As a local, family-owned business, we want you to be able to enjoy spending time outside with your family, and it is important to us that you get to do so safely. Don’t let wasps take away your right to enjoy your yard; call us today!