Of all the flying insects, wasps are right up there with mosquitoes in terms of annoyance and danger. Sprays can keep pests away, but their nests need to be taken down and steps should be taken to keep them from coming back. in this article, we will answer the following questions:
As a homeowner nothing is more annoying than discovering a wasp nest on your property. While your first instinct may be to destroy it, you may be wondering if the wasps will simply rebuild in the same spot. I totally get the frustration! Here’s what you need to know about wasp behavior when their nest is removed.
Why Do Wasps Build Nests in the First Place?
Before we get into whether wasps rebuild destroyed nests, let’s look at why they build nests at all. For most wasp species the nest serves a few key purposes
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Raising young The nest provides protection for wasp larvae and pupae to develop The mature wasps work cooperatively to feed the young insects,
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Storing food: Wasps collect food and bring it back to the nest. The food is stored in the nest cells until consumed.
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Shelter: The nest gives wasps a place to rest at night or escape from bad weather. Different species build nests in various sheltered spots like under eaves, in trees, or underground.
So in short, wasps build nests because they need a centralized spot to breed, feed, and take shelter. Without an established nest, they can’t sustain their colony.
Do Wasps Try to Rebuild Destroyed Nests?
If a nest is knocked down or removed, the wasps will often initially return to the area looking to rebuild. According to experts, here are a few reasons why:
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Familiar location: Wasps invested time and energy scouting out and building the original nest. Returning to a familiar spot is more efficient than finding a brand new site.
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Remaining pheromones: Chemical pheromones in the area mark it as an established wasp nesting spot. These can attract wasps back to the location.
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Lingering structure: Even if most of the nest is removed, remaining bits of paper structure indicate that this was previously a nest.
However, wasps do not persistently try to rebuild forever if the nest is repeatedly destroyed. Here’s why:
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Lack of resources: Rebuilding an entire nest requires a lot of energy and materials like wood pulp. If efforts to rebuild are continuously thwarted, the wasps eventually abandon the spot.
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Declining temperatures: In cooler climates, wasp activity declines in fall. Lower temperatures hinder their ability to maintain and rebuild nests.
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Life cycle ending: At the end of the season, freezing temperatures kill off the current colony. The mated queens overwinter separately in sheltered spots like hollow logs. They start fresh colonies in spring, often in new locations.
So while wasps may make some initial rebuilding efforts, they do give up eventually if the area remains inhospitable. Let’s look at how you can discourage rebuilding and redirect them away from your house.
Discouraging Wasps from Rebuilding in the Same Area
If you’ve just removed a wasp nest on your property, here are some tips to prevent wasps from persisting in that spot:
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Eliminate remaining nest structure: Make sure to completely remove all nest material so there are no remnants to attract rebuilding.
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Use strong-smelling repellents: Spray or wipe the area with repellents containing mint, citrus, or eucalyptus oils. These can mask nest pheromones. Reapply frequently.
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Set out traps: Wasps investigating the former nest site may get caught in traps baited with sweet liquids or pheromones. Trapping out some wasps can hinder rebuilding efforts.
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Seal off sheltered nest sites: Block access holes and cracks around eaves, overhangs, and other spots wasps originally nested. This denies them an appealing cavity to rebuild in.
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Wait for colder weather: In fall, declining wasp activity makes it less likely they’ll persist in rebuilding the nest. Cooler temperatures send them into survival mode.
With some persistence and the tips above, you can thwart those wasps from continually rebuilding their nest on your property. Keep an eye out for new nests next spring, but enjoy a wasp-free rest of your season!
What Do Wasps Do When Their Nest is Destroyed?
When wasps suddenly lose their nest, their behavior depends a bit on the time of year:
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During peak nesting season: The wasps will swarm around in the vicinity for a few days, searching for food and shelter. Some will try to rebuild on the original site. Others may eventually locate a new suitable nesting spot if the old area remains inhospitable.
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In late summer/fall: With no remaining larvae to feed, the wasps enter survival mode. They search for sugary foods to fuel themselves. Cooler temperatures make rebuilding difficult anyway. The queen wasps eventually seek sheltered spots to overwinter.
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After the first hard freeze: Freezing temperatures kill off the entire colony except for already mated queens. The queens tuck away under tree bark or in other protected areas and go dormant for the winter. In spring, they emerge to start new colonies.
So in the short term after nest removal, the wasps will be agitated and may pester humans more aggressively as they scavenge for food. But without a good site to rebuild, their numbers will gradually dwindle as the weather cools and the annual colony cycle ends. Next season, the queens begin fresh colonies in new locations.
Fascinating Facts About Wasp Nests
While battling those wasps rebuilding their nest can be annoying, wasp nest architecture is actually quite fascinating:
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Wasp nests are made from wood pulp chewed into a paper-like material. Some species collect fiber from dead wood or fallen logs. Others harvest weathered wood buildings or even cardboard!
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The nest paper is waterproof yet breathable, keeping the interior dry but circulated. It also resists mold growth.
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Nests contain a series of horizontal combs in stacked tiers. The combs have small cells to house eggs and store food.
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Many wasp nests contain a pedicel – a single pillar that anchors the nest to its sheltering overhang. It acts like a central support beam.
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Nests are built progressively outward in rings. Older combs are located centrally and newer combs are built on the periphery.
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A large nest can contain 10,000-15,000 cells and house 3,000-7,000 adult wasps at peak occupancy!
Can I get rid of a wasp nest myself?
Of course, you can, but should you is a whole other question. Wasps can be dangerous if done incorrectly. Most people who try to get rid of wasps on their own use water or fire, which doesn’t work very well and can hurt you or your property.
To get rid of wasp nests for good, you should use a pesticide to kill all the wasps before taking the nest down. This may take some time, depending on the product you use. Most products you can buy are not as effective as a product a pest exterminator. The wasp nest should then be removed. Wasps are flying bugs, so this needs to be done often because new swarms will try to move into your home. We suggest that you put wasp next removal on your home maintenance calendar to help you remember to do it every time. This home maintenance calendar will help you remember when to take down the nests, spray for pests, and do other things that will help you keep your home in good shape.
Removing a wasp nest yourself can be done, but it can be dangerous and costly, as mentioned. A pest control company should take down the nest because they are better equipped to do so and can also help get rid of other pests on your property.
When should you spray a wasp nest?
Wasps can be sprayed at any time of the day, but we suggest spraying around dawn and dusk. This is because the wasps are less active at those times. That keyword isn’t being used as much, but you could still get stung if you spray during these times.
You will notice most pest exterminators don’t have the luxury to wait until dark to remove the nests. A nest can be taken down at any time of the day, but it is best to do it at night with the right tools and training.
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Will wasps return to a Ruined nest?
Wasps build their nest on a need to use basis, and they will not return to old nests they have built in the subsequent years. But what if the nest was ruined? Will wasps return to a destroyed nest? It is highly unlikely that wasps would return to an old nest – destroyed or abandoned!
Do wasps rebuild a nest?
If there is something natural, such as weather, that has caused accidental damage, then the queen will often see no reason to vacate the nest. Therefore, she will rebuild it. However, if the damage is extensive and purposeful, the wasps will recognise the likelihood of a continuous threat and rebuild in a new location.
Should a wasp nest be removed?
Once a nest is useless, it is safer to remove the entire nest so that the wasps know not to return to your wasp-intolerant abode. Tackling the issue of eradicating a community of wasps and the intricate conical homes they build near or under the eaves of your home is a serious issue.
What happens if a wasp queen dies?
But if the queen dies in a damaged nest, then the remaining wasps will not rebuild their nest and will not come back to build another nest in the same location. Usually, in this situation, the wasps will return to their nest area and will vacate upon realising their queen is dead. Without a queen, the nest cannot survive, and it will wither away.
