Nisus Corporation: Stinging Insect Tips

By: Ron Schwalb

When dealing with stinging insects around a home, we, as pest management professionals, may become somewhat more reactive instead of proactive in our management practices. This usually happens when our customer calls us in late summer or early fall with concerns about wasp or yellowjacket attacks to family members or pets that disturbed an established nest.

Protecting our customers from such potential harm should involve a year-round integrated program. The first part of the program is a thorough inspection around the exterior of the structure during every service. While inspecting, look for unsealed cracks or openings on structures where insects could enter to establish a nest or to find a warm spot to overwinter. Look for situations that might aid the establishment of ground nests, such as unkempt mulch beds, for insects such as yellowjackets. Inspect around doors, windows, eaves and outdoor play structures — especially during late spring through early fall to locate paper wasp nests.

After inspection, seal those cracks and openings you found to exclude entry. Try applying an insecticide dust formulation into these areas before you seal them. During the early spring and summer, advise your customer to keep garbage cans sealed and not to leave recycled materials accessible that could attract yellowjackets.

Inspections for established nests of stinging insects should become more intense during late spring through early fall to locate established nests. A quarterly topical spray with a wettable powder or micro-encapsulate to eave areas around windows, beginning with a spring service, then continuing with mid-summer and fall services as cool weather arrives, may help reduce potential populations. If treatment is required for established paper wasp nests, a “wasp freeze” type of aerosol could be used. Make sure the aerosol product you use has good knockdown, a good treatment distance, is non-flammable and is non-conductive.

So, when dealing with stinging pests, remember “year round” and to be proactive instead of reactive.