Preferred Pest Control For Bees & Wasps In Iowa
Excitement for warm weather and the summer ahead isn’t the only thing abuzz in the air as temperatures change. Wasps and bees are ready to enjoy their summer, too, even if it’s at your expense. Our bee and wasp nest removal experts often get calls from homeowners who spot a bee or wasp nest and their buzzing inhabitants around the home. Social wasps and bee colonies can multiply throughout the summer and expand to hundreds or thousands of insects within the nest. A high concentration of stinging insects is a risk to tackle on your own, especially if you don’t use an effective method or take proper precautions.
By working with our team of bee and wasp control professionals for prevention, treatment and nest removal, you can minimize the potential for swarms to take up residence in and around your home. Our goal with professional pest control for bees and wasps is to safely get rid of them and their homes before they cause any harm like stings or allergic reactions. We also aim to educate you as the homeowner to be aware of a possible bee or wasp problem at your home and what you can do to help these pesky buzzers be gone.
Avoid The Risks Of DIY Bee & Wasp Control
The species of bees and wasps here in Iowa typically aren’t known to be aggressive unless they feel threatened. Using DIY solutions like wasp spray without proper precautions and planning exposes you to angry insects that may sting to protect their colony. Bees die after only one sting, but wasps can sting multiple times, so it’s difficult to escape unscathed. Several species of bees and wasps mark their nests, which often attracts more of these pests. Spraying the site won’t prevent bees or wasps from returning to the area, leaving your home susceptible.
At Preferred Pest Control, we have the experience, equipment and expertise to safely perform pest control for bees and wasps and provide our wasp nest removal services. We target bee and wasp colonies at the source and clear away any sign of a wasp nest to prevent these pests from returning. All the while, you and your family stay protected from painful stings and can enjoy time outdoors in peace.
Our Safe & Effective Bee Treatment Or Wasp Nest Removal Service Process
Homeowners across the Des Moines metro trust our thorough process to control the bee and wasp populations surrounding their homes. We follow proven steps to get rid of wasps and bees and lay the groundwork to prevent future activity in or around your home. Depending on the species and where they make their home, our process may vary slightly, but for the most part we follow four main steps:
1. Spray The Nest
One of the most important precautions we take in ensuring our wasp and bee exterminators stay safe on the job is making sure the insects inside the nest cannot harm them. The first step before our bee or wasp nest removal service is to spray the nest with an aerosol. This will take care of any wasps, bees or larvae inside. If needed, we may wait 24 hours after this stage to ensure we’re safe from the insects.
2. Add Dust Insecticide To Prevent Pest Return
Next, our wasp and bee exterminators use a dust insecticide as a long-term solution to prevent future bee and wasp activity. Long-lasting and effective even in nooks and crannies, our insecticide treatment can give homeowners peace of mind that they won’t have another wasp or bee infestation for the rest of the year.
3. Remove Wasp Nest
Once treated, we complete our wasp nest removal service, removing it from the property. This is an important step to keep future pests away, since nests can often be reused. If you have a beehive on your hands, we recommend working with a local beekeeping professional to safely remove and relocate the hive.
For particular bee species, we recommend a couple extra steps to prevent recurring offenders. For example, if we’re treating a carpenter bee hole, like the example in the video below, homeowners should use a cork or wood putty to seal the hole a couple months following professional treatment. If the hole is left alone, another carpenter bee will use this as their nest and cause even more damage to the wood. If you still see carpenter bees trying to dig into the wood around your home, it might be best to paint it. They will not try to drill painted wood.
4. Provide Bee & Wasp Prevention Tips
The best prevention tactic for bee and wasp control is to perform regular inspections around your home. Check for nests in protected areas (preferred by most bee and wasp species) and look for damage to your lawn or deck (a sign of carpenter bees). For year-round pest prevention that includes pest control for bees and wasps and wasp nest removal service, check out our service bundles for homeowners! Our pest control professionals will check your home multiple times a year to make sure bees, wasps and a long list of other pests stay out of your home.
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Spotting A Bee Or Wasp Nest In Your Yard
Noticing a wasp or two in your home or near your yard isn’t always a cause for alarm. Summer is prime time for these pests, after all. But as social creatures, bees and wasps rarely fly solo. If you’re worried about a potential colony staking claim in your home, be on the lookout for a bee or wasp nest in tight, unassuming spaces. Depending on the species, nests will look different. We have resources to explore nests by species, but in general, bees and wasps both look for secluded spaces inside trees, walls, cracks or crevices in your deck or foundation, attics, garbage bins, gardens and more.
Not all species of bees nest in stereotypical beehives that typically resemble the hexagonal honeycomb you’ve likely seen on TV. These hives are home to honeybees. While we don’t remove beehives, we’re happy to recommend a local beekeeper to safely remove and relocate the hive and colony from your home.
Other bees, such as bumble bees, nest in the ground or in existing spaces like planters or old bird nests, while carpenter bees drill holes in wood structures like porches or decks to lay eggs. While most bees and wasps are more of a nuisance pest, carpenter bees can do damage to your home over time. For their shelter, wasps build their nests in hexagonal patterns similar to a honeybee hive, but beehives are made out of a waxy substance bees produce, while wasp nests are paper-like, molded from saliva and substances wasps produce. Some wasps also build their nests underground, making them even more difficult to spot.
Ultimately, if you notice a large presence of bees or wasps, it’s worth a further look. Our wasp and bee control technicians have the tools to locate and rid pests directly from the source.
What Attracts Bees & Wasps?
All the best parts of summer—bright colors, fresh fruit, flowers, sweet treats, cool water—appeal to bees and wasps much like they do us. Both insects associate floral smells, bright colors and even patterns with nectar and flowers, their source of nourishment. Standing or open sources of water, like ponds or pools, also attract these pests. Other common culprits include pet food or meat (left outdoors or in the trash), sugary scents and sweets and untreated wood, like an unstained deck.
If you’ve ever felt like a bee or wasp magnet, you probably weren’t all wrong. Floral fragrances, bright outfits and flower patterns may draw a buzzy crowd to you. Our pest control for bees and wasps includes preventive treatments like dust insecticides, but we encourage you to take steps to reduce your risk of a bee or wasp infestation at your home, as well.
How To Prevent Bees & Wasps From Building Nests
The best way to prevent bees and wasps is to take care of your yard, property and belongings. Well-maintained landscaping, secure trash and sealed cracks are just a few ways to help your home avoid busy bees and wasps:
1. Keep Garden Neat & Trimmed
By keeping a tidy garden and yard, you leave less room for foliage to overgrow, which would create ideal housing for bugs.
2. Cover Pools & Keep Areas Dry To Avoid Standing Water
If you own a pool, ensure it’s covered while not in use so water isn’t left open to the elements. Also take measures to keep your home dry if it’s susceptible to standing water after a storm so water drains away properly and doesn’t become a buzz-worthy retreat.
3. Maintain A Cleanly Home
Manage trash and food waste in securely covered trash bins. Don’t leave pet food sitting for long, and be sure to pick up produce from fruit trees or gardens if your yard yields food.
4. Ensure Wood Structures Like Your Porch Or Deck Are Treated
Species like carpenter bees and paper wasps seek wood to build their nests. However, treated wood—wood that has been stained or painted—deters them from using your house as a free-for-all because the chemicals serve as built-in bee and wasp control.
5. Seal Gaps In Your Home’s Foundation
Leave no room for sneaky bee or wasp nests by sealing gaps in your home’s foundation, including your home’s siding, patio, eaves, deck, etc.
6. Fill Holes In
Close any holes in your yard to prevent an underground invasion. Cover or fill holes in to protect your lawn from becoming a landing zone for bees and wasps.
7. Regularly Inspect Your Home & Seek Preventive Pest Control Services
The most reliable way to rid your home of these sting risks is to enlist professional pest control for bees and wasps. You can keep an eye out for bee and wasp nests, but our team at Preferred Pest Control is just a phone call away when you need a trained eye. Take advantage of our proactive pest control bundles for seasonal treatments including dust insecticides and wasp nest removal services to keep bees and wasps at bay.
Call Our Bee & Wasp Control Experts For A Buzz-Free Yard
If you see bee or wasp nests near your home, don’t risk getting stung by attempting removal yourself! The buzz around town is that our trained wasp and bee exterminators know how to get rid of wasp nests and bees and help homeowners feel safe and comfortable all season long. Pest control for bees and wasps includes preventive measures to ensure they don’t come back. If you need our wasp nest removal services or trained bee exterminators, call us at (515) 415-5550 or schedule an appointment online today!
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