What to Do About Wasp Nests on Your McKinney Property

In our area, it is common to find wasps and hornets building nests under rooflines. It is also common to find them building nests in ground holes and in the voids of man-made structures or landscaping. Let's take a moment to discuss the life cycle of wasps in McKinney, and what you should know about wasp nest prevention.

Every winter, wasps die off. In the spring, life begins again as overwintering fertilized females emerge from hiding and begin establishing nests. These nests start as small half-umbrella shapes in hidden places. In summer, most nests develop into an ominous egg-shaped orb. You may see these above ground or you may only get a hint of their existence as wasps go in and out of crevices or holes.

Spring is an important time of year for nest removal. If you catch a nest early, you may be able to remove it with the sweep of a broom. Wasps will abandon a nest that has been detached. Check the outside of the developing nest before performing your sweep to make sure the female wasp is not crawling around on top of the nest. If she is on her nest, be sure to give yourself a path of escape. She's not going to like it when you destroy all of her hard work.

Nest Removal Problems

This task can be difficult and a possible risk to your safety under certain circumstances. Here are a few things to consider.

• Never hang out a window to sweep a nest away. An angry wasp can cause you to lose your balance and fall out of the window, or it can fly right inside your home through the open window. It is best to use a long pole with a brush on the end to remove starter nests from third story rooflines.
• Refrain from using a ladder. An angry wasp can cause you to turn quickly and fall from a ladder.
• Be aware that spraying a nest can be hazardous, especially if you are spraying a nest above you.
• Wasp sprays are harmful to children, pets, and wild animals. These should only be selected and applied by a licensed pest management professional.
• Exercise greater caution when dealing with a starter nest in a shed or outbuilding.

Removing Established Nests

Once a female wasp has established her nest and drones are flying around the outside of the nest, it is unwise to tackle nest removal on your own. Drones have a nest-protection instinct. If you take a swipe at a fully-formed nest, those wasps could swarm you. Each wasp has the ability to cling to your skin and sting you multiple times. This can be very unpleasant, and potentially life-threatening if you have an allergic reaction.