How to Get Rid of Wasps in the Winter

Spotting a wasp around your home can be alarming, especially during the winter season. Running across a wasp can also be an indication of more in the area. Some wasps survive the colder months by hibernating in hidden places, such as in cracks or crevices in homes. When dealing with wasp infestation, it’s important to act fast. 

However, attempting to remove wasps from your home without professional help can be dangerous. We’ll walk through how to quickly identify wasps in the Wisconsin area, and how to go about removing them from your home.

Types of Wasps in Wisconsin

To be able to treat wasp infestation, it helps to know which kind of stinging insect you’re dealing with. In Wisconsin there are a few main types of wasps that you’ll find: Yellow Jackets, Paper Wasps, and Bald-faced Hornets. Being able to identify the type of wasp can help you treat the infestation quicker and more effectively. 

Yellow Jackets

Yellow jackets are known for their black and yellow stripes on their backs, and are a predatory insect. These wasps are notorious for interrupting a family barbeque, as they are attracted to sweets and proteins such as fruit. This type of wasp burrows in hollow logs or tree stumps during the winter and is most active in the spring and summer. 

Paper Wasps

Paper Wasps can be identified by their brown and yellow bodies. While many paper wasps die in the winter, queen wasps survive by nesting in a protected place. You might spot one of these wasps in shrubs, tree branches, roof overhangs, attic rafters, and porch ceilings. Though these wasps aren’t aggressive, they can sting which can make them a concern if they build a nest around your home.

Bald-faced Hornets

Bald-faced Hornets are black with a white pattern in their face. They typically build nests indoors in the winter in roofing or around eaves. It is best to avoid these wasps as they are highly aggressive and have stingers. To keep these wasps out, seal up any cracks or crevices around your home and keep any food you bring outside covered.  

How Wasps Enter Your Home

Like most pests, wasps get into a house in various ways. Sometimes there is a gap, crack, or hole, allowing them to enter your home without being noticed. This is especially dangerous since they can set up a nest to enter and leave your home without being noticed. The infestation can grow dangerously fast and cause some major problems.

Another way that wasps can enter your home is by hitchhiking. They may grab onto food or clothing or just fly in on accident. Once inside, they will find a safe, dark space and set up a nest. Once you know how they enter, you can take precautions to make sure they can’t get back in again.

What To Do for a Wasp Sting 

Wasp stings can be terrifying, but are they actually dangerous? For many, wasp stings can be a little painful, and cause an infection. However, people who have allergies to wasp or bee stings can be susceptible to an allergic reaction. 

For those without an allergy, the first step is to remove the stinger with tweezers or similar tools. Using your hands to pull out the stinger can release more venom. Then, be sure to wash the area with soap and water and apply ice to reduce swelling. However, if you begin to experience serious symptoms such as an allergic reaction, call 911 or local emergency service. 

Where Do Wasps Go In The Winter?

Queen wasps hibernate during the winter months to ensure the survival of the species, but most other wasps die off, including the workers and males, as they can’t survive the cold. Unlike bees, wasps don’t store food, so the colony can’t sustain itself through the winter. The queens find shelter in protected spaces like tree bark, attics, or wall cavities, where they enter a dormant state. When spring arrives, the hibernating queens emerge to establish new colonies, starting the cycle anew.

Removing Wasps from Your Home 

There are ways to remove wasps from your home such as utilizing wasp spray or water and soap. However, most DIY home remedies for removing wasps are not safe or effective in the long-term. Attempting to remove a wasp nest or killing a stinging insect can leave you with a wasp sting or worse. At Terminix Wil-Kil Pest Control, we provide sustainable pest control solutions to remove any wasps from your home and keep them out for good. 

Keep Your Home Wasp Free with Terminix Wil-Kil Pest Control

At Terminix Wil-Kil Pest Control, our team is committed to providing effective pest control treatments. Our home protection plans provide options for keeping your home pest-free year-round. With quarterly preventative treatments available, you can have peace of mind knowing pests won’t re-enter your space. Call our pest professionals at Terminix Wil-Kil to receive a free quote or to set up your appointment today!