Do Wasps Hibernate Inside Houses?

When winter hits us, we often assume that insects either die off or stay in their nests to hibernate. This is certainly not the case and knowing: do wasps hibernate inside our homes? is important to keep your property safe from infestations.

 

Where And When Do Wasps Hibernate?

So now you know that wasps do hibernate, it’s time to tell you that in fact some wasps don’t. Some wasps don’t survive the winter so therefore don’t hibernate. The answer to do wasps hibernate is yes, but no at the same time.

When the first frost hits the UK, many of the wasps in a colony will die. The females are left over and these are the ones that are going to become queens. Do wasps hibernate? Yes, the female queen wasps. You might be happy about that as there won’t be any drones buzzing round for the Christmas season.

 

 

Now that you know do wasps hibernate and that most die off, it may seem like something you shouldn’t worry about because there’s so few left. Should you be concerned if a random wasp pops up in your home?

You need to be aware of do wasps hibernate because they will want to find an undisturbed location to hibernate. The perfect location could be in your home. One of the most common places wasps spend the winter are in our lofts. When the warm weather comes again, you will see a lot of wasps hatching from wherever they’ve built a nest in your home. This is why you need to be so alert.

 

Preventing Wasps From Hibernating In Your Home

Prevention is always better than cure. Plus, it can be really hard to spot a hibernating queen in your home before it’s too late. There are things you can do to easily stop a queen wasp from hibernating inside your home.

 

 

• Windows and doors – Keep your windows and doors shut as much as possible when the weather gets cooler. This will stop wasps from wandering into your home. If you have fly screens on your doors or windows, keep them well maintained and fix holes.
• Keep bins shut – Open bins will definitely be attractive to a queen wasp. She wants a great food source nearby to help her through the winter. Plus having this food source is great for young wasps when they hatch in the spring. Keep bins as far away from your house. Ensure they are emptied regularly and they all have tight fitting lids.
• Keep your eyes peeled for nests – Nests should be easy to spot around your home and garden. If you know one is nearby, it is definitely recommended to get it treated by a professional pest controller. If you let a nest go untreated, the queen may find her way into your home during the winter to hibernate. Plus, it’s quite dangerous to have a large wasps nest on your property if you have children or pets.

 

What To Expect From Professional Wasp Control

Getting rid of a queen wasp in the winter from inside a home is a lot easier than regular wasp control. There are no nests to remove. However finding her hibernating site can be tricky. The last thing anyone should do is go rooting around near her. She will be sleepy but can still pack a painful sting. This is particularly dangerous for those who are allergic to wasp stings.

 

 

To keep your home and your family safe from hibernating wasps we always recommend using a professional pest controller. We have the right technical knowledge and experience to treat a hibernating queen wasp. Our technicians also have access to pesticides not available over the counter which are much more effective at treating the problem. We also come equipped with the proper protective equipment so no one will get hurt during the treatment.

Our team will know where to look in your home to find a hibernating wasp. We will then treat them accordingly. Even if you think they are at an inaccessible height, Empire will always treat the pest problem in the safest way possible for you and your family. Alternatively you may want to wait until the Spring when the queen wasp emerges. However, this isn’t recommended as she will probably build a nest before you even notice she’s awake.

 

DIY Wasp Control

Using an insect spray quickly kills wasps, we all know that. But the queen wasp is different. It’s very dangerous to try and do any sort of wasp control yourself if you have a hibernating wasp. When a wasp feels threatened they will attack, and this can be painful and potentially lethal for allergy sufferers.

Remember to always call in the professionals when dealing with a hibernating wasp. Don’t resort to over the counter products to solve the problem. It won’t help, and could end up costing you more money in the long run.