All About Wasps: Pest Control Calgary

Wasps range from 13 to 40 mm in length, are yellow, white, black, or reddish in color, and have three pairs of legs and two pairs of thin, transparent wings. Different wasp species bear characteristic markings. Unlike most bees, wasps are generally hairless. The body of a wasp is composed of three distinct parts: head, thorax, and abdomen.

A common sign of wasp infestation is the wasp nest. These may be found in or around homes or other structures. Different wasp species have different nest building locations. Paper wasps create aerial nests which can be found hanging from trees, under roof eaves, and from decking, arbors, and gazebos. In contrast, most yellow jackets create underground nests, utilizing former rodent burrows or cavities beneath rocks and shrubs. Wasps are aggressive and will readily defend their nests by stinging any perceived threats. Individuals with allergies to wasp venom may experience debilitating and potentially life-threatening reactions if stung.

When eating outdoors, keep food items covered at all times. Keep garbage cans tightly sealed. Regularly inspect the home and yard to detect newly created nests early. Seal cracks and crevices which may be wasps’ potential point of entry. Repair cracks in the perimeters of windows and doors. Caulk cracks along wall or baseboard voids. Limit potential food sources. Inspect exterior trim and lighting fixtures. Keep window screens in good repair. An opening of more than 6 mm may be used by wasps to gain entry into a structure. Control populations of flies, ants, and spiders in and around the home. Promptly clean up food crumbs and spilled liquids. Store garbage bins more than 15 meters away from the home or the site of outdoor activities. Trim vegetation away from
the exterior of structures. Discard old wasp nests that are no longer in use.

Different wasp species construct nests that range in shape, size, and location. In the case of paper wasps, nests are constructed using a thin, paper-like material that is created when the wasps chew plant materials and glue them back together. The nests
of paper wasps consist of 150 to 300 cells arranged in a single layer that is comb-like, and the nests have stalks or stems called a pedicel. Paper wasps typically attach their nests to fences, tree branches, roof eaves, frames of doors and windows, and exterior
trim. Like paper wasps, the nests of yellow jackets and hornets are constructed of plant materials. These nests are comprised of 1,500 to 3,500 cells arranged in several layers, consist of five to nine combs, and may be enclosed in a paper envelope or non enveloped. Some yellow jacket nests can be quite large and similar in size to a soccer ball. Hornets and yellow jackets commonly create nests in hollow trees, wall voids, and the interior of outbuildings, whereas other nests may be located underground in areas free of vegetation. Unlike other species of wasps that are social, mud daubers are a solitary wasp species. Mud daubers’ name is derived from the nests they construct from mud. These nests are around 20 to 25 mm long and are constructed next to one another to form clusters up to 120 mm wide. Mud daubers prefer sheltered areas for nesting sites, such as exterior trim and outbuildings.

Wasps feed on plant materials such as nectar, fruit juices, or honey dew. The most common wasp pests in Canada are primarily scavengers or carnivores that specialize in feeding on other insects. As such, wasps play a beneficial role due to their predation of
insect pests in gardens and crop fields. The scavenging behavior of wasps contributes to their interest in human environments and activities where food is located and makes wasps common household nuisance pest insects.

As wasps develop from eggs into adults, their bodies are transformed by the process of metamorphosis, a process that takes around six weeks for most wasp species. For the first weeks after the eggs hatch, wasp larvae emerge to feed on dead insects provided to the larvae by stinging female workers. Next, larvae enter the pupae stage in which the larvae transform into adult wasps over the course of a few more weeks. The queen generally produces workers only at the beginning of the warm season, and those workers will then care for larvae while the queen lays more eggs. The largest population of a wasp colony occurs during late summer to early fall. At this time, the colony produces a reproductive generation of males and females. Shortly after mating, males die, while the remainder of the colony dies off over subsequent weeks as temperatures decrease. Queens (fertilized females) overwinter and, when spring arrives, will lay the eggs that begin a new colony for that season. Queens prefer to hibernate in low traffic areas of homes and structures, such as attics, outbuildings, or other storage spaces they can access.