Summer in Waltham is one of the best times to enjoy the outdoors. With outdoor activities, backyard cookouts, and plenty to do, it's no wonder Waltham residents love the summer. With the warm weather, however, comes something far less pleasant: wasps. If these stinging, buzzy creatures are causing you concern, you need the best pest control in Waltham from Assurance Pest Solutions. Read on for what you need to know about these buzzing creatures.
What Do Wasps Look Like?
The following features and characteristics will help you with wasp identification:
- Kidney-shaped eyes
- Pointed body and waist
- Wings folded along the back while at rest
There are two types of wasps: social wasps and solitary wasps. Social wasps live in colonies. In the springtime, a fertilized queen begins a new colony of wasps. She raises the first group of female offspring who help build the nest. Over the summer months, the nest grows as the colony grows. There are about 20 species of social wasps in America. Social wasps include yellow jackets, hornets, and paper wasps. In contrast, solitary wasps do not build colonies. The largest wasps, such as the blue-and-orange tarantula hawks and cicada killers, are solitary wasps.
Did You Get Stung By A Wasp?
There are different types of wasps, and they all are capable of stinging. If you get stung, it was likely by a female yellow jacket or a paper wasp. Male wasps are often territorial and aggressive —especially if their nests are disturbed — but they do not have stingers or venom.
Yellow jackets and paper wasps are part of the Vespidae family, and the venom from their stings may cause serious reactions. Initially, the sting of these wasps are characterized by the following at the sting location:
- Burning pain
- Red welt
- White spot at the sting site
Typically, the welt and pain decrease within a short time. In about 10% of cases, the swelling and redness may grow to a welt about 4 inches long. During the next several days, the reaction should diminish.
How To Treat A Wasp Sting
If you get stung by a wasp, take the following steps:
- Remove the stinger by scraping the site with gauze or a fingernail.
- Wash with soap and water.
- Apply an antiseptic cream.
- Apply a cold compress.
In a few rare cases (about 3%) an allergic reaction, known as anaphylaxis, may occur when stung by a wasp. If you experience itching, hives, swollen throat, vomiting, and upset stomach after being stung, you may be having an anaphylactic reaction, which is deadly in some cases. Be sure to seek medical help immediately if you experience these symptoms after a sting.
How To Keep Wasps From Taking Over Your Property
To reduce the possibility of being stung, steps for wasp prevention around your home are a necessity.
Here are a few quick tips to keep wasps from taking over your property:
- Seal cracks with a silicone-based caulk.
- Fix tears in window screens.
- Keep porch doors closed.
- Cover any food when eating outdoors.
- Avoid wearing strong fragrances.
- Wear shoes and protective clothing.
If you have an active wasp nest on your property, you'll require wasp removal. If you have wasps, you may have a wasp nest in your trees, shrubs, weathered wood, under eaves, or in the ground. Removal of wasp nests from your property requires the best wasp removal service in Waltham from Assurance Pest Solutions.
The Assurance Pest Solutions team is made up of highly trained professionals who are experts in wasp removal. We will identify and remove the sources of wasps on your property. Contact us today and let us eliminate wasps from your home.