How can I keep wasps and hornets out of my yard in Oklahoma?
Wasps and hornets are eusocial, territorial insects that live together in large papery nests. When these insects build a nest in your yard, they'll become aggressive about defending it. You may be doing yardwork or simply enjoying an outdoor barbeque, only to suddenly be attacked with dozens of painful, venomous stings.
If you don't want hornets and wasps nesting in your yard in Oklahoma, try these tips to keep them away:
- Remove any possible wasp and hornet attractants from your yard. Often, these stinging insects swarm around Oklahoma homes because of outdoor garbage cans with food waste in them. Anything sugary or greasy is likely to attract hornets and wasps. Because of this, you should store any outdoor food waste in sealed bags dumped inside a bin with a tight lid. If there are any apple, cherry, peach or other fruit trees in your yard, dispose of fallen fruit quickly - wasps love the sweet taste of overripe fruit.
- If you see hornet or wasp nests being built, remove them early before they're populated by hundreds of the insects. While exact nesting preferences vary by species, stinging insects often construct their paper nests under roof eaves and porches, and from the branches of trees. If you do find a new nest in your yard, wait until dark - when wasps are inactive - before spraying the nest with a wasp killer product and knocking it down.
- Set up stinging insect traps around your yard in Oklahoma. Bait the traps with something sweet and sticky, like apple juice. Be warned that placing wasp traps too close to your house can actually attract the insects; it's better to position them toward the edges of your property, about 25 feet apart.
If your do-it-yourself wasp and hornet prevention efforts don't seem to be working, it may be time to call the professionals. Contact Champion Pest & Lawn today if you're interested in our stinging insect exclusion services in the greater Oklahoma City area!