How to help stop hornets and wasps from nesting

Hornets and wasps threaten property and personal safety when they build nests in or around your home. These insects will defend their nests and sting when they feel threatened. Additionally, their presence can result in property damage and potential health risks, particularly for individuals allergic to their venom.

Wasps and hornets are attracted to various factors, such as food sources and sheltered nesting sites. Identifying and addressing these attractants can reduce the likelihood of hornet and wasp infestations. There are several hornet and wasp prevention tips to keep them from building nests around your yard and home.

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Prevention vs. removal

The following hornet and wasp prevention tips can help to create an environment less attractive to pests, discouraging nest-building. These prevention tips should not be confused with removal tips. If you currently have wasps or hornets nesting near or in your home, it's time to contact the pest control professionals at Terminix.

What attracts stinging pests?

Wasps and hornets can be attracted to numerous areas on your property. They are often drawn to sweet substances such as ripe fruits, flower nectar, and sugary drinks. Additionally, they may be attracted to uncovered food and garbage, especially if it contains protein-rich items like meat.

Wasps and hornets also seek out sheltered nesting sites, so areas around your home with accessible openings, hollow trees, or dense vegetation can create an ideal nesting environment.

Tips for preventing nests

Knowing how to prevent wasps and hornets can create an environment that is less attractive to these stinging insects. By reducing the likelihood of infestations, you can have a safer and more enjoyable outdoor experience with your family.

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Keep trash can lids closed

Wasps are attracted to sweet substances like ripe fruits, fermented foods, sugary drinks, and uncovered food scraps. Keeping outdoor eating areas clean and free of debris and spills can reduce your property’s attractiveness, helping with hornet and wasp prevention. Ensure trash can lids are securely closed, and waste is disposed of properly to minimize food odors that might attract wasps or hornets and promote nesting nearby.

Trim vegetation

Wasps often build nests in overgrown vegetation, such as trees, shrubs, and bushes. Keep your landscaping well-maintained by trimming vegetation and tree branches away from your home to eliminate potential nesting sites and reduce hiding places for wasps. Removing any dead branches or hollowed areas in tree trunks can also help.

Mindful landscaping

By designing landscapes carefully and avoiding excessive clutter, you can discourage nesting and minimize encounters with stinging insects. A mulch depth of two inches or less is preferable as well. Consider planting mint, eucalyptus, lemongrass, and citronella. These aromatic plants can create a natural barrier that can help deter wasps from nesting nearby.

Hang a fake nest

Wasps are territorial insects and may avoid areas where they detect other colonies. Hang up fake wasp nests made from paper or plastic bags in strategic locations around your property to mimic the presence of existing colonies. Fake wasp nests are considered a non-toxic and environmentally friendly method of wasp prevention, as they do not rely on chemical pesticides or traps.

Fill holes in your yard

Wasps and hornets may nest in underground holes in the yard, such as abandoned rodent burrows in the ground. Regularly inspecting your yard and filling in any holes with sand or fine soil can help eliminate potential nesting sites and discourage wasps and hornets from establishing colonies. Additionally, inspect tree and bush root systems to ensure there are no holes or access points under the root ball.

Seal cracks outside your home

Wasps and hornets can enter homes through small cracks, gaps, or openings around windows, doors, and vents. Sealing cracks outside the home prevents them from accessing potential nesting sites. Using silicone-based sealant to close gaps in walls, siding, or rooflines, homeowners can create a barrier. This will deny these insects entry, reducing the risk of nesting indoors and discouraging them from nesting nearby. Common nesting areas outside the home are eaves, roof overhangs, sheds, and decks.

Exclusion

Exclusion helps prevent wasps and hornets from nesting by creating physical barriers that deter them from accessing potential nesting sites. Fine mesh screens over the roof, gable vents, and other barriers can help with wasp and hornet prevention.

If these hornet and wasp prevention tips aren’t successful and you find nests around your property, call a professional for assistance. Terminix technicians can provide a thorough and effective solution to your stinging insect problem. Our technicians know how to prevent hornet nests and can reduce the risk of wasp encounters. Contact us today.