Wasps are a common sight around homes during the warmer months. If you're seeing more of them than usual, there's usually a reason.
These insects are resourceful foragers, and your home or yard may be offering exactly what they're looking for. Below, we take a look at the common attractants that our wasp control experts look out for.
Wasps don't show up at random. They're drawn to specific things like food, water, shelter, and nesting opportunities. Here's a breakdown of the most common attractants.
Wasps have a strong appetite for sugar, especially in late summer when their natural food sources start to run low. Open soda cans, fruit juice, ripe or fallen fruit, and sweet desserts are all major attractants.
Earlier in the season, wasps are on the hunt for protein to feed their larvae. Grilled meat, pet food left outdoors, and open garbage bins are all attractive to them. Even small scraps can bring wasps in from a surprising distance.
Unsecured trash is one of the most reliable wasp attractants around homes and businesses. Compost piles have the same effect, especially when they contain fruit scraps or meat.
As fruit ferments on the ground, it releases sugars and aromas that attract wasps in large numbers. This is especially common from July through October, when wasp colonies are at their largest.
Like most insects, wasps need water to survive. They're also drawn to it for nest-building, mixing water with wood pulp to create their nests. Birdbaths, pet water bowls, puddles, and leaky outdoor faucets can all attract wasps to your property.
Wasps are drawn to bright colors because they associate them with flowers and food sources. Floral perfumes and scented lotions can have a similar effect.
Wasps look for protected spots to build their nests: eaves, roof overhangs, wall cavities, sheds, attics, and gaps in siding. A queen wasp scouting for a nest site in spring will be drawn to any structure that offers shelter from wind and rain.
Wasps chew wood fibers to build their nests, and they prefer weathered, unpainted wood where the material is easier to break down.
Wasps are predators as well as foragers. They hunt caterpillars, flies, and other insects to feed their larvae. If your garden has an aphid problem or other pest activity, it can draw stinging insects in to hunt.
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To reduce the need for professional wasp nest removal from a pest control company, you can help by reducing what attracts wasps to your property. Here are some practical steps you can take:
If wasps have already made themselves at home on your property, we’re here to help. Our trained technicians can identify the species, locate nests, and put a wasp control plan in place. We'll also advise on steps to help reduce the chances of wasps returning.
Wasps and hornets are covered under our PestFree365+ plan, which provides year-round protection from 39 of the most common household pests.¹ It's a practical way to stay ahead of stinging insect problems before they become a bigger issue.
Don't wait for a sting — get in touch with Western Exterminator today to schedule an inspection and find out how we can help protect your home.
Wasps are drawn to food, water, and shelter. Sweet foods, protein sources like meat or pet food, unsecured garbage, standing water, and sheltered spots under eaves or in wall cavities are the most common culprits. Removing these attractants is the best way to make your home less appealing to them.
Fallen or overripe fruit, compost bins, outdoor food and drink, and standing water are all major draws. Wasps are also attracted to weathered wood, which they use as a building material for their nests. Keeping your yard tidy and sealing gaps in structures goes a long way toward reducing activity.
Wasps tend to be drawn to bright colors, particularly yellows, whites, and pinks, as they associate these with flowers and food. If you're spending time outdoors during wasp season, wearing muted or darker colors and avoiding floral-scented products can help reduce unwanted attention.
Both wasps and hornets are attracted to the same core things: sugary foods and drinks, protein sources, sweet scents, and sheltered nesting sites. Hornets tend to prefer wooded areas and larger cavities for nesting, but around the home, the attractants are largely the same.
¹ Covered Pests defined in your Plan. Autopay is required. Voles and fire ants are only covered if they are in the home, we will not treat the lawn. Single family, free-standing, owner-occupied homes only. Other limitations apply. See Plan for details.
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