Don't Attempt Bee Or Wasp Hive Removal Alone In McAllen

When you notice bee or wasp activity on your property, it is tempting to take matters into your own hands. For small starter nests that look like little gray blobs, you may have no trouble. But, once stinging insects grow a larger nest, they become a challenge. The best way to get rid of a wasp nest is to contact a pest control service provider. For assistance with pest control services in McAllen, reach out to BUGWORKS Termite & Pest Control. We use science-based pest management solutions to get results with the least amount of control materials. With that said, join us today as we break down all of the relevant facts you need to know about bees and wasps in our region of the country. We'll look at why stinging insects want to hang out on your McAllen property, the issues that arise when trying to remove nests on your own, where to look for nests so that stinging pests don't catch you by surprise, and how nest removal works. Let's get started! 

Why McAllen Homes Are Hotspots For Stinging Insect Activity

When evaluating your bee or wasp management needs, it is helpful to understand why these insects want to live on your property in the first place. Knowing why stinging insects establish nests in your yard can help you prevent problems before they start and fully address a stinging pest problem after finding a nest. It isn't enough to only remove a nest because more nests can form quickly afterward. Perhaps you've already noticed.

There are different types of wasps and bees. Some factors attract all wasps and bees to your yard, while others attract only certain kinds. Let's quickly walk down through these factors and look at which stinging pests are drawn to them.

Nectar: As we're sure you know, all stinging insects eat nectar. If you have lots of flowers in your yard, you're going to invite these insects. In most cases, this isn't a big issue, as bees and wasps help with pollination. But, when you have flowering weeds taking over your yard, you allow a plentiful source of sweet nectar to elevate the stinging pest activity on your property.

Protein: Wasps and certain bees will feed on sources of protein in your yard. They primarily get protein from insects. If you have lots of insects in your yard, you'll catch the attention of the stinging variety as well. You can reduce the insect population in your yard by reducing exterior lights or replacing white lights with yellow lights. Insects aren't as able to detect yellow light and are, therefore, not attracted to it.

Moisture: Stinging insects need water for survival. Residential and commercial properties offer water in many ways. These insects may drink from a leaf, puddle, gutter, etc. It is helpful to address moisture problems if you want less attention from stinging insects.

Wood Debris: Certain wasps create their nests from wood pulp. If you have dead branches, logs, wood piles, or campfire wood on your property, you can attract these insects. They will scrap the wood to gather the material they need for nest construction and get busy making nests near your home. They can also get pulp from paper and cardboard in junk piles. Keep this in mind.

Structural Wood: We have one stinging pest that is uniquely attracted to structural wood. It is the carpenter bee. A carpenter bee will create a tunnel inside wood that is unpainted and unprotected. While the tunnels they create are not extensive, they return year after year and make old tunnels longer. When carpenter bee problems persist, they get worse over time.

If you want fewer issues with bees and wasps, you need to consider these factors and take steps to correct them if possible. Stinging insects are only doing what comes naturally to them. Altering conditions around your home is a simple way to put in place one layer of protection. 

Common Spots Where Bees And Wasps Make Hives Around McAllen Properties

When stinging insects find a reason to be in your yard, where should you look for nests? Once again, it depends on the different types of wasps and bees. There are unique traits that dictate where they'll make a nest. We touch on a few below.

Webs: Wasps look for sources of protein in your yard, and they are particularly fond of spiders. If you have spider webs on your porch, these pests may attempt to create nests above them because they're looking to eat the spiders that are making those webs. After removing a little starter nest on your porch, take the time to clean the webs up to naturally deter future nest creation.

Trash: Wasps can get food from your garbage. Some are attracted to the scent of decaying organic matter. If you have a trash receptacle next to your home, these insects may create a nest above it. They are positioning themselves where the odor rises.

Unfinished Wood: Are you building a shed, dog house, fence, or deck? Carpenter bees can move in during projects like this. They are particularly fond of decks, and you may find their nests by lying down on the ground and looking up at the wood. Carpenter bees cling to horizontal surfaces by the bottom and tunnel upwards. The holes they create are perfectly round.  

Holes: Some wasps build their nests in ground holes or wall voids. For instance, yellow jackets do this. If you want to find their nests, you have to look for these tiny wasps hovering around near the soil in your landscaping. Routinely seeing yellow jackets in one area is a good sign that you have a nest in the ground. Also, look for them entering and exiting an exterior wall. If they're doing this, the nest is inside the wall void.

When you find a nest (or evidence that a nest is present), contact a pest control service provider for effective hive removal in McAllen. Let's take a look at some of the pitfalls you may experience when attempting to deal with a nest on your own.

Why You Shouldn't Try To Remove A Bee Or Wasp Hive On Your Own

When bees and wasps create a nest larger than a tiny gray golf ball, removal is a challenge. Again, the level of challenge is related to the unique differences between each species. And, as we pointed out before, in some ways, all stinging insects are the same.  

If you remove a nest, you might get stung. Paper wasps, yellow jackets, and bald-faced hornets are three common wasps in our area, and they are social insects that fiercely protect their nests. There are some bees that also protect their nests. Honey bees and bumble bees may not pose much trouble for you when you see them on flowers in a field, but near their nests, they can present a significant threat.

While removing a nest, you may injure yourself. People climb ladders, hang out windows, walk on roofs, and stand on vehicles to deal with nests. When those insects start pouring out of a nest and gather into a swarm, it is a recipe for disaster. 

When addressing a nest, you might drive these pests into your home. In the case of carpenter bees, it is possible to increase the amount of wood damage when they're forced to tunnel deeper. When dealing with wasps, they sometimes find a pathway and escape to the interior of the home.

Nests that are created in ground holes or structural voids require specialized training to address. There is no way to apply a topical treatment without removing the materials that encase the cavity. It is best to let a technician handle this for you.

The Safe Strategy For Hive Removal In McAllen

Do you have a need for a bee hive or wasp nest removal? Do you live in McAllen? Contact BUGWORKS Termite & Pest Control. Our technicians have specialized education in stinging insect removal. We also come with field experience. We've dealt with a lot of different situations and know all of the many ways bees and wasps can create extra trouble. Best of all, we do this tough (and sometimes painful) job for you. 

Once the wasp nest is removed, keep in mind that there is more to do. We evaluate the conditions around your home and let you know what you're up against. We point out conducive conditions, potential entry points, and other factors. We also offer year-round pest control service plans to give you layers of protection. Your service can include insect reduction, spider web removal, crack and crevice protection, and protective nest removal. If you don't want any more stinging insects surprising you in your yard, dealing with attractants and removing nests is the best way forward. Contact us by text, phone, or our contact page to speak with us and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in McAllen. We're here to help.