The Trick To Keeping Wasps Away From Your Denver Property

Here in Colorado, it gets so cold in the winter a lot of people might think that means we don’t have to worry about pests like wasps. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Plenty of species can get through harsh winters, and we’ve got our fair share right here in Denver.

Below, we’ll talk about some common wasps in our home state of Colorado, as well as the dangers they pose and what you can do to keep these stinging, often aggressive pests off your private or commercial property.

Common Wasps In Denver, CO

Bald-Faced Hornets

These large, black and white social wasps like to build huge hanging paper nests in trees or shrubs, under awnings and overhangs, and anywhere else from which they can suspend their homes. Be especially careful around bald-faced hornets. They can become extremely hostile when their nests are threatened. They will swarm perceived threats and sting them as many times as they can, often pursuing their victim over short distances.

Mud Daubers

The most docile wasp on this list, mud daubers (also called dirt daubers or mud wasps) like to build their nests out of mud, often sticking them to the sides or ceilings of structures. These black or metallic blue wasps can sting, but rarely do, preferring to just abandon their nests rather than defend them. Be wary of mud dauber nests, though. If they abandon their mud tubes, other, more aggressive wasps may move in.

Paper Wasps

Paper wasps build gray, honeycomb-shaped nests that they suspend from tree branches, awnings, or anywhere else convenient. These black and yellow wasps are social in the sense that several of them nest together, but they don’t typically build massive colonies with hundreds or thousands of individuals. Paper wasps are not hyper-aggressive like the bald-faced hornet or yellow jacket, but they will sting if their nests are threatened.

Yellow Jackets

A relative of the bald-faced hornet, these yellow and black social wasps tend to build their nests in holes in the ground rather than suspending them from tree branches. Like their aerial-nesting cousins, yellow jackets can become extremely aggressive if their nests are threatened. They’re infamous for their tendency to swarm, sting dozens (or hundreds) of times, and pursue their victims until they believe the threat to their nests to be eliminated.

Wasp Attractants & Prevention

Many wasp species prey on insects to feed their young, while they live off the sugar in nectar, fruit, and other glucose sources. Some species are less picky; yellow jackets, for instance, will scavenge just about anything in your garbage. That means you’ll need to focus on multiple possible food sources to prevent infestation such as:

Cover all outdoor garbage cans to discourage yellow jacket activity.
Make sure to harvest the produce of any fruit trees rather than letting them rot on the ground.
Keep brightly colored flowers away from the edge of your property.
Eliminate other sugar sources like hummingbird feeders and sugary drinks.

What To Do If You’re Infested With Wasps

If you do wind up with a wasp problem, never try to deal with it on your own. As we discussed above, many species of wasp will defend their nests against threats, and some species can become dangerously hostile. To stay safe, call the pros.

Here at Absolute Pest Control, we’ve been ridding Denver area homes and businesses of wasps and other unwanted guests for 35 years! We offer climate-specific services that respect the seasonal nature of Colorado pest activity, and we provide you with a variety of customized treatment options to fit your unique needs. So give us a call at (303) 841-7378 or visit our contact page to make an appointment.

Learn more about our home pest control and commercial pest control services.