Peak Wasp Season in Great Neck, NY

Wasps are all around in summer. But if it feels like they suddenly take over your yard in August and September, it’s not your imagination. Late summer into early fall is peak wasp season in Great Neck. It’s also when these insects are at their most aggressive. 

Here’s what you need to know about wasp season in Great Neck, NY.

Why Late Summer Is the Worst for Wasps in Great Neck, NY

Wasp colonies spend the spring and early summer growing. By the time late summer rolls around, a single yellow jacket nest can hold thousands of workers. It’s at this same time that the colony’s needs start to change.

Earlier in the year, colonies need to prioritize insects so they can feed their developing larvae. By the end of the season, that work is mostly done. So the adults go looking for sugar instead. This is why they’ll suddenly start crashing your barbecues and flying into soda cans. With food harder to find and a colony at full size, they get bold and they’re a lot quicker to sting.

A few different insects tend to get lumped together when talking about wasps around Great Neck. There are yellow jackets which nest in the ground or in wall voids. They’re the most aggressive among the scavengers. You also have paper wasps that build open, umbrella-shaped nests which you see under eaves and railings, and sometimes grill lids if you’re unlucky. Bald-faced hornets are the ones that construct large gray, football-shaped nests that hang from trees and structures. They defend them fiercely.

Each of these wasps gets more defensive as the nest grows through the season.

Getting Through Peak Wasp Season in Great Neck

A little caution goes a long way this time of year. Keep food and sweet drinks covered outdoors and keep trash cans sealed. Check eaves and railings for wasp nests above the ground. And for the ground-dwelling ones, check along your foundation for nests before you mow or trim.

If you find a nest in the late summer or early fall, do not swat at it or try to knock it down on your own. You can get away with removing wasp nests in April or May if they are small and you’re not allergic. But by the time it’s August, the wasps are aggressive and their colonies are large. It’s better to call a wasp control professional in Great Neck if you find a wasp nest. Disturbing a wasp nest during peak season can bring the full force of the colony out at once.

Still, it’s a good idea to make note of where wasp nests are showing up. Part of the reason we suggest this is because knowing where the wasps are lets you avoid them now. And the other part is that you will know where wasps are likely to set up shop next year. If you take action in early spring, like treating places where you know they’ll be tempted to build, you can help prevent a lot of wasp trouble next summer.

Need Wasp Control in Great Neck?

If wasps are taking over your yard, Mosquito Squad of Nassau County and Queens can help you take it back. Call (516) 874-3003 or contact us online for a free pest control assessment and quote, backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee. Ask about wasp, hornet, and yellow jacket control as part of our pest packages.