Wasps

Arizona’s Sonoran Desert provides a perfect home for several species of wasps. In Tucson, the paper wasp, also known as the umbrella wasp, is the wasp that we most commonly find around Tucson homes and swimming pools. There are three species of paper wasps that live in Arizona: the yellow paper wasp, Navajo paper wasp and the Arizona paper wasp.

Facts about Arizona’s Paper Wasps

Paper wasps get their name from the paper-thin, honeycomb nests they build on the eaves of buildings or in doorways each spring. Their nests are made from plant material combined with saliva and appear to be made from paper, hence their name. Their nests include numerous compartments where the queens lay their eggs and rear their young.

Paper wasps are social wasps, which means they live in large groups. By late summer as many as 200 wasps may be present in a single nest. By late fall, the queen and workers die and the nest is abandoned.

Paper wasps have very painful stings and can sting multiple times. They usually do not sting people unless they are provoked, but they will fiercely protect their nests if threatened or disturbed. While wasps benefit the eco-system by pollinating plants and preying on other pests, they are territorial and can pose a threat to people or animals who get too close to their habitats. Because of this, and because many people have allergic reactions to wasp stings, you should remove nests that are close to your home or structures on your property to protect your family, pets, and livestock.

Safety Tips on Wasps

Do NOT panic!
Do not make any rapid movements or any sound.
Do not spray anything in the air or at the swarm or hive, including water.
Do not throw rocks or any objects at the swarm or hive.
Refrain from swatting at wasps buzzing around your body.

Why Do Wasps Choose Your Property?

Wasps are attracted to areas with abundant food—nectar, sugary drinks, fruits, and proteins—as well as suitable nesting sites that are dry, shaded, and undisturbed. Overflowing trash cans, uncovered food, and thick shrubs can make your property especially inviting.

Preventing Wasps Around Your Home

Keeping wasps away requires proactive steps:

Keep outdoor trash cans tightly closed.
Promptly clean up food debris and spills.
Trim back shrubs and low branches near the house.
Remove fallen fruit and fill yard holes where wasps may nest.
Consider adding wasp-repelling plants (such as geraniums, marigolds, and citronella) to your garden.
Repair gaps, cracks, and holes around windows, doors, and eaves.
Install fake wasp nests; wasps rarely build within several hundred feet of another nest.
Avoid over-watering gardens, which can attract both wasps and their prey.

Wasp Removal

Wasp populations grow quickly in summer. To prevent a colony from becoming too large, address new nests early in the season. While small, newly started nests can sometimes be removed at dusk using approved wasp sprays and personal protective equipment, mature nests are hazardous to tackle without expertise.’

Professionals have the right tools, knowledge, and safety gear to handle nest removal, minimizing the risk of stings and preventing new colonies from re-establishing in the same spot. Because of the real risk of severe allergic reactions, professional removal is always the recommended choice near homes and play areas.

Call Conquistador Pest

Conquistador Pest Control knows effective methods for getting rid of wasps and wasp nests, and we can help you prevent wasps from building future nests in the same location. We also provide termite control and weed control.