The one great thing about winter is that you don’t have to worry about wasps flying around all the time. Where exactly do wasps go during the colder months, however?

The vast majority of wasps die off during the winter months. This is partially to do with the colder temperatures but mainly because there are limited food sources available at this time of year and they therefore starve.

Queen wasps do hibernate but very few of them actually survive the winter because they end up getting eaten by predators such as spiders. Warm winters can also contribute to this because wasps emerge from hibernation too soon and then end up starving due to the lack of food.

Where are wasps likely to hibernate?

Some hibernating wasps are lucky enough to survive the winter and will start to emerge in early spring. While this is good news for the wasps, it’s not great for you if they’ve nested in your home or business premises.

If you want to avoid an outbreak of wasps, it’s a good idea to do a thorough check for any potential nests in late autumn when they’re about to get into hibernation and then again in early spring before they start to emerge.

The places you’re most likely to find wasps nesting include:

Attics
Soffits
Chimneys
Wall voids
Around the eaves and ledges of a house
In window and door casings
Quiet and undisturbed rooms in a house
It’s rare but sometimes cupboards
Outdoor areas such as in trees, on the edges of roofs or inside garages, sheds or bird boxes

How to prevent wasps

Wasps can be tricky and even dangerous to try and remove so in this case, prevention is definitely better than cure.

Lofts are common places for wasps to nest or make their way into a property so make sure you check for small holes and gaps that these insects can fly in through. Seal even small holes and use insect mesh to cover air bricks and soffits. This is an exercise that’s well worth carrying out because it can help to prevent a host of other pest infestations as well.

Treat timber with a wasp repellent. You can either purchase one from a DIY store or make your own natural mix using eucalyptus oil, menthol, citronella oil and teak oil.

Inspect areas frequently. If you manage to spot a nest being formed and it’s still smaller than a tennis ball, you can simply vacuum it away. Make sure you dispose of the hoover bag immediately by securing it in a thick plastic bag and then put it in an outside bin with a tightly fitted lid in case there are any wasps in there.

Call a pest controller. Pest control isn’t just great when you have an outbreak, they can also prevent them from occurring in the first place. They will be able to identify any vulnerable points around the property as well as bad habits which may encourage wasps to nest in your home.

For your free, no obligation pest audit, contact Prokill today and we will be more than happy to help.