Paper Wasps 101: Boise Edition

Paper wasps are a common nuisance pest in Idaho that can cause headaches and damage to your house. Especially as the weather warms, paper wasps become more active around your home. 

As fall comes in full swing with temperamental weather and colder temperatures, don’t let your guard down. Pests will come closer to the warmth of your home and hunker down for the winter, waiting for spring to come with warmer weather. We need to guard our homes against pests, including paper wasps, even as we are seeing them less and less through the rest of the year.

What Are Paper Wasps?

Like most wasps, paper wasps have a slender, narrow waist. These particular wasps are brown with yellow or reddish-brown markings.

Paper wasps have smokey black wings which fold lengthwise when at rest. Adults grow to be 1/2 to one inch in length. A type of stinging insect, paper wasps have a stinger extending from the abdomen used to hunt prey and as a means of defense.

Due to their ability to sting us, our children, and pets, paper wasps are always unwanted when they decide to move into our yards and invade our personal space.

Are paper wasps dangerous?

Paper wasps can be beneficial pests and are responsible for some pollination. They also feed on and help control populations of nuisance insects. However, when paper wasps decide to place a nest in our yards or homes, the benefits of their presence are outweighed by the dangers they pose.

Paper wasps have smooth stingers and can deliver multiple venom-filled stings. It's dangerous when they live on your property. Paper wasps make it difficult for you to enjoy your backyard without worrying about suffering from a nasty sting.

One characteristic of paper wasps that distinguishes them from other household pests is their territorial nature. They will protect themselves and their nests at all costs. If you get too close to their nest, there is a greater chance that you will be stung. This becomes particularly dangerous when the paper wasps build nests in high traffic areas of your home, like entryways, under decks, and on your back patio. 

Paper wasp venom is strong enough to trigger reactions for those with allergies. A reaction may range from mild swelling at the sting site to life-threatening anaphylaxis. However, most people experience a small pin prick pain, similar to someone pinching you, and some redness and itching at the sting site.

Why do I have a paper wasp problem?

Paper wasps will utilize any outdoor space that provides them with a sheltered area to nest. They prefer to build nests on properties with ample sources of food and easy access to water.

Our yards often provide the perfect place for paper wasps to nest. They like to nest on man made structures. Our gardens, trees, shrubs, bushes, and even trash cans provide places for paper wasps and their prey (insects) to forage for food.

Where will I find paper wasps?

Paper wasps are often identified by the shape and material of their nests. A paper wasp creates its nest from a paper-like material made of saliva, bark, and other plant materials. The inside of a nest has multiple single cells attached by a single stem. The nest looks like an upside-down umbrella or a strawberry.

Paper wasps particularly like to build nests in corners, like in the eaves of your house, to offer the most protection to their nest. Paper wasps eat wood, so any structures with wood on them - particularly natural, untreated wood - are more likely to have nests built on them.

Paper wasps place their nests up off of the ground in sheltered areas, usually on or near man made structures, such as:

• Rooflines and eaves
• Porch ceilings
• Under decks, porches, or patios, and along the railing of deck stairs
• Garage or barn rafters
• Doorways
• Light fixtures
• Window trim and weep holes

How do I get rid of paper wasps?

Dealing with paper wasps on your own is never recommended. Reaching out to an experienced wasp control professional is the best choice when it comes to getting rid of paper wasps from your Boise property.

We know that dealing with stinging pests is stressful and dangerous. Therefore, we provide our customers with fast response times. We will solve your paper wasp problem quickly using the latest and most effective products. After we leave, you can rest assured knowing that your paper wasp problem is a thing of the past. You can enjoy your outdoor space without worrying about the threat of being stung.

To learn more about our stinging insect control services, reach out to the Boise pest professionals at Averse Pest Control today!

How can I prevent paper wasps in the future?

Prevent problems with paper wasps by partnering with Averse Pest Control and its Boise wasp control specialists, by implementing the following prevention tips:

• Seal any crevices you discover in your home’s exterior walls, foundation, or behind door or window frames to stop paper wasps from moving into your home.
• Make sure screens in windows and doors are intact and tight-fitting.
• Keep tight-fitting lids on trash cans and recycling bins. Paper wasps will forage for food in open containers of trash. 
• Keep outdoor eating areas and spaces around grills free of food debris.
• If you have fruit trees, make sure to harvest the fruit and pick up any that has fallen to the ground.
• Avoid over planting flowering vegetation on your property.
• Keep gardens and lawns well maintained and free of overgrown vegetation.