Wasp-Hornet-Yellow
Jackets - Tulsa, OK

You thought that only thing you had to worry about in Tulsa was the storms. But when you set up your picnic table and grill in the backyard, you had a different kind of storm to deal with. Your relaxing afternoon wasn’t interrupted by rain, but by wasps. They were buzzing above your guests’ heads, waiting for an opportunity to take a good bite of hamburger.

Wasps and hornets are scavengers. While many wasp species strictly eat nectar, their larvae need “meat.” The wasps will hunt for insects to feed their young. Yellow jackets, on the other hand, particularly like protein and sugars. You will most likely find yellow jackets around garbage cans in picnic areas or near food processing plants (or hovering above your summer dinner).
Many wasp species live above ground. The paper wasp, for example, uses wood and plants to build nests in trees and building eaves (which hold only about 75 members at the most.) The yellow jacket hornet builds large nests (up to 5,000 members) underground. Sometimes they will even settle inside wall voids.

All the advice you can find on the internet is avoidance. Keep away from garbage cans. Don’t wear bright clothing, use cologne or perfume. Also cleaning up after your picnic will prevent the wasps from being attracted to your summer fun. If a wasp does approach you, don’t swat at it. Stay calm and move slowly. Otherwise, you may provoke it to sting you. Also, be careful during your morning yard work. Lawn mowers alarm ground-nesting hornets. Yellow jackets are particularly aggressive; they’re not going to be forgiving when your lawn mower disturbs them.

Your spring and summer activities are under constant threat. Hornets are such a large problem that you can’t wear perfume or wear that bright shirt to impress your significant other. But there’s a way you can relax and enjoy summer without worrying about what you’re wearing or where you’re sitting. Take care of the problem early. It’s best to call a professional; approaching the nest yourself can leave you with several stings. If you see any indication of a wasp nest, call a Tulsa Rove Pest Control professional to solve your wasp problem.