The start of spring brings joy, warmth, the fragrance of flowers in bloom, and the buzzing sound of bees. Bees are certainly not always friendly, especially when you notice a nickel-sized hole in your furniture and in your house. Those holes may be evidence of carpenter bees, which excavate tunnels into any wood. Carpenter bees are of the genus Xylocopa; several species excavate holes into wood.
Wood wasps are called horntails, and unlike social bees such as hornets or yellowjackets, are usually not aggressive and cannot sting or bite humans. Sadly, wood wasps in your house can lead to great loss and can be crippling to your house. However, eradicating wood wasps is rather simple, but the question is how to do this. Visit this site to learn more about Wood Wasps and their infestation.
How to identify wood wasps?
Wood wasps are one of the largest native species of bees found in the United States. They are typically identified as a large type of insect, generally 1- 1.5 inches long, with an almost cylindrical body and thicker at the waist compared to typical wasps. The idea of their colour may vary from black to metallic red- brown or blue shade, along with amber or yellow markings. They often leave their larvae in the woods while they are harvested. Eventually, the wasps develop inside of it, emerging while the processed woods are used to make new buildings or pieces of furniture.
They are typically seen during spring, buzzing underside of the deck or around the eaves of a house. To announce their presence, they bump into the window each morning. Although wood wasps are definitely cousins to other wasps, they do not sting or bite. The only thing you have to worry about with these potential pests is all those ugly holes they may escape through in your home’s wood.
How do wood wasps infest your home?
After studying every possibility, there are only two primary ways in which wood wasps can infest your home:
- Pre-infested woods:
If you are purchasing wood that is already infested with wood wasps for the construction of your house or any of your furniture, they may easily infest your home by chewing through materials.
- Firewood:
Some people have the habit of keeping the firewood inside their house, but this habit could lead to the infestation of wood wasps. It is recommended to keep firewood outdoors whenever not in regular use.
Ways to manage wood wasps in your home?
If you detect wood wasps appearing in your home spaces or you happen to suspect an infestation, here are some ways to manage the infestation:
- Identifying the source:
You must first check if the wasps are appearing from structural wood or firewood. If it is the firewood, empty it from the home indoors and try to store it outside of your house. Bring the woods inside only when you need them for immediate use.
- Inspect the losses and Repair:
If you inspect any ornamental damage, such as exit holes in floors or walls, you can repair them with wood plaster, putty, or equivalent materials. If you happen to suspect infested wood inside your home, consult a pest control professional to ensure the seriousness of the issue.
- Proper sanitization
Use sanitized or treated wood for construction to avoid the presence of larvae. You should store the wood for fire outside of the house and perform a proper inspection of it before bringing it inside your house. Remove the older wood from your house promptly to reduce the chances of wood wasps spreading eggs.
- Avoid chemical treatments:
Since wood wasps do not infest dry wood and their numbers are usually low, the use of chemical treatments like whole-house fogging will be unnecessary and not advised. Physical removal of adult wood wasps is acceptable.
