Why Do Wasps Become Aggressive in Late Summer?

Have you ever been enjoying a meal outside, and right before your eyes, it becomes a wasp warzone?

Kids are getting stung, and you’re swatting for your life. And now, those flying, stinging pests with an attitude problem are stealing your summer joy and peaceful mealtime in one fell swoop.

So, why do wasps become so aggressive in late summer? You might think you did something to set them off, but there’s a little more to it.

There’s More Wasps

The wasp colony growing under your deck started in spring with one queen working alone. All summer, she laid eggs to multiply her workers and raise the brood. And by August, the nest is at its peak (which could mean thousands of yellowjackets or wasps). So, if it feels like they have a personal vendetta against you, that’s not the case.

In fact, there isn’t really anything that changes about individual wasps. Over the course of a few months, more of them hatched and started doing their rounds on your property. And more wasps = more wasp encounters (and possible stings).

The Late Summer Switch

For most of spring and summer, workers hunt protein. They feast on caterpillars, flies, and other insects to feed developing larvae. This work keeps them busy and mostly away from you.

Then, late summer arrives, and something switches. The queen stops laying eggs and the last larvae of the season mature into adult wasps or yellowjackets. Then, all of a sudden, there’s no more larvae to feed, and no more rewarding, sugary larvae salvia for the workers. So, the frantic, starving workers search for sugar to fuel their bodies.

And, that’s why you see wasps near your food. Your soda, fruit salad, and spilled juice make the nearby desperate wasps swarm. And being a little on edge, they’re more apt to sting a swatting hand.

Then, worker wasps start job hunting. Because, once the brood is raised and grown, workers lose the task their entire lives depended on. Now, they might forage for themselves and range further from home to find precious food sources.

Defensive Stinging

Wasps typically sting when they feel threatened. So, wasps might sting you for these reasons:

• They think their nest is under attack - someone walking too close to their nest could trigger this. 
• They’re trapped against skin or clothing - they flew too close and now they’re stuck and unsure of how to get out.
• You’re swatting them with your hand or arm - they might read this as an attack. Some species release alarm pheromones that call in the colony to swarm. 

And for anyone with a wasp or yellowjacket allergy, wasp control should be the number one way to help protect you and your family from stings. A single sting could mean a medical emergency and a hospital stay.

How to Host This Summer Without Getting Swarmed

Before guests arrive, walk the property and check:

• Eaves, soffits, and porch ceilings
• Deck undersides and railings
• Ground nests in the lawn, mulch beds, and at the base of trees
• Grills, patio furniture, and equipment left unused for weeks
• Sheds and outdoor storage

During the gathering:

• Keep food covered until it's served
• Serve drinks in closed cups or cans with lids
• Secure trash and recycling with lids that latch
• Wipe up spills as they happen
• Move bins away from the food and seating area

And what not to do:

• Don't swat - if a wasp comes near, move your body slowly and stay calm. 
• Don't seal a nest opening - wasps in a wall void will find another way out, sometimes into the house.
• Don't attempt removal at peak size - August is the worst possible moment to disturb a colony that has thousands of defenders.

Let Us Control Your Wasps This Year in Avalon

Mosquito Squad Plus of Jersey Shore serves Avalon and surrounding communities with wasp and hornet control. And, our trained technicians always start with a property inspection to locate active nesting sites, including the ones tucked into soffits, deck framing, and ground burrows.

Treatment is tailored to species and location, using EPA-registered products applied according to label guidelines, and you can return to treated areas once the treatment has dried.

And if your party or special event is coming up quick, consider trying our special event spray in preparation. We’ll come by before the food and setup arrive. This way, your This way, your guest won’t have to worry about swarms.

No treatment clears a property entirely, but we’ll get pretty dang close. And that’s the power of strategic, effective wasp control that you can depend on.

Dealing with wasps around your Avalon property? Call Mosquito Squad Plus of Jersey Shore at (732) 716-3346 or contact us online for a free quote.