Is It Dangerous To Have Paper Wasps On My West Chester Property?

This doesn’t mean you should disregard an active nest or try to remove it on your own. Assure the safety of yourself and others by contacting a stinging pest control specialist for your West Chester property.

Paper Wasp Identification

Paper wasps are brownish in color, with yellow or reddish markings. They have six long legs, two wings and antennae, and they average between 5/8 to 3/4 of an inch in length. 

Paper wasps earned their name through their nest building habits. The queen combines wood fibers with her saliva to create a soft paper pulp. Workers use this pulp to shape an open nest in sheltered areas such as tree branches or the eaves of a building.

Paper wasps are often confused with yellowjackets. The most obvious difference between the two can be seen in the smaller and slimmer body shape of a paper wasp in comparison to a yellowjacket. 

Paper Wasps Can Be Beneficial In The Right Environment

The presence of paper wasps on your West Chester property is somewhat of a double-edged sword. Paper wasps feed on nectar, but they also enjoy snacking on other insects, including beetles, caterpillars, and flies. Their feeding habits inadvertently become a beneficial form of insect control.

Unfortunately, the favorable aspect of paper wasps may be outweighed by the unfavorable cost that comes with stinging pest activity. There are considerable dangers associated with paper wasps, so any encounter you may have with them needs to be treated accordingly.

Improper removal of a paper wasp nest can threaten the health and safety of anyone in the vicinity of this process. Paper wasps will perceive the people around them as a threat to their home, possibly resulting in multiple stings.

Each year, stinging insects send more than half a million people to the emergency room. Those who suffer from stinging insect allergies are most susceptible to health threats, but enough stings can send anyone to the hospital.

When it comes to paper wasps, it isn’t worth the risk. Protect your West Chester property from unwanted stinging pests with the help of a professional pest control expert.

How To Discourage Paper Wasps From Building Nests

Finding ways to make your West Chester property less attractive to paper wasps is the best way to prevent them. Here are some helpful tips to minimize the risk of getting stung by these threatening pests:

• When eating outside, keep food covered and clean up any crumbs or spills, especially sweets. Sugars are a source of energy for paper wasps.

• Avoid wearing strong fragrances outdoors. Opt for fragrance-free detergents and soaps if you haven’t done so already.

• Secure trash and recycling bins with tight-fitting lids.

• Keep trees and shrubs well-trimmed to reduce nesting sites.

• Regularly inspect potential nesting sites such as trees and shrubs, decks and porches, tops of windows and door frames, soffits, eaves, and overhangs.

• Seal any noticeable gaps or cracks located on the exterior of your building.

• Install or repair door sweeps, weather stripping, and screens on doors and windows.

The Safest Way To Safely Eliminate Paper Wasps

If you find an active nest on your property, it’s time to team up with the licensed professionals of Masters Touch Pest Solutions for a safe removal. We are a locally-owned and -operated company, with more than 25 years of experience in the pest control industry.

Masters Touch Pest Solutions was built on the basic principles of trust, respect, and quality service. We provide effective and dependable pest control services in West Chester, PA and surrounding areas. 

When you work with Masters Touch Pest Solutions, you’ll receive a customized plan, lasting results, and service with a smile. Contact us today to schedule your free estimate!