It’s the height of summer, and that means one thing: wasps are out in full force. In most cases, you probably don’t enjoy their pesky presence, especially if they decide to make their home inside your house. So will more wasps come if you kill one in your house?
Killing a wasp in your house will not attract more. Instead, the dead wasp releases pheromones, which alert the nearby wasps, making them more aggressive. Since wasp nests are communal, making the rest aggressive will make them think their home is in danger, and they will be more likely to sting.
In the rest of this article, I’ll discuss how wasps use smell to communicate. I’ll also discuss what to do if you kill a wasp in your house to remain safe. Let’s get started!
The Smell of the Wasp Corpse May Attract More Wasps
Wasps communicate with each other through the sense of smell. When a wasp dies, it releases chemicals known as pheromones that communicate danger to other wasps.
Therefore, if you kill a wasp in your house, the other wasps will be able to smell the pheromones and get alerted of the impending danger.
Not surprisingly, stinging is the primary defense mechanism of social wasps. If they think their home is under attack, they will be more likely to sting you. However, other wasps defend themselves by building complex nests that shield them from attacks.
Solitary wasps are not fond of stinging but use smell to identify danger. Once they sense danger, these wasps try as much as possible to get away. This is different from social wasps, which tend to sting when confronted.
It’s worth noting that although the smell of a dead wasp should not attract wasps, social types use their smell senses for different purposes. Thus, they may perceive the pheromone smell as an invite; in this case, they are more likely to come.
Therefore, if you must kill a wasp, it’s essential to have a quick look around for a wasp nest. If you see one, you better leave the one wasp alone. Killing it may attract other wasps from the nest if they are social wasps.
You can use a flyswatter to kill the wasp if you don’t see a wasp nest. Just remember that this is a dangerous option as you may get stung in the process.
What to Do if You Kill a Wasp in Your House
Killing a wasp in your house keeps the rest on the lookout and ready to sting. Therefore, it’s your responsibility to ensure you’re safe.
Some of the things you can do in such a situation are:
- Clean the area exposed to pheromones. Once you’ve killed a wasp in your house, clean the area as soon as possible. This will help remove the pheromones and stop social wasps from coming.
- Use insecticide. Insecticides are designed to kill insects. Using an insecticide around the area where you killed a wasp helps kill any other wasps attracted by the pheromones.
- Use a vacuum. You can also use a vacuum cleaner to remove the dead wasp and pheromones. This is a safe and environmentally friendly option.
Is It Bad to Kill Wasps?
Killing a wasp or wasps is legal, especially if they pose a health or structural risk. Commercial and residential property owners can kill and eliminate wasps from their property.
However, it’s essential to look at wasps from an ecological point of view before killing them. As predators, they play a vital role in keeping the population of other pests in check.
Additionally, some wasp species are pollinators, which means they help in the reproduction of plants. Therefore, killing them might impact plant life and, as a result, affect the food chain.
Before killing every wasp in sight, you should consider the long-term effects of such an action. Killing wasps is only advisable if they threaten your family or property.
How to Kill a Wasp in Your House
You should try to get the wasp from your property before resorting to killing it. Some ways to get rid of the wasp without killing it include:
- Opening the windows. If the wasp is flying around your house, you can open the windows to let it out.
- Turning off lights. Wasps are attracted to light. If you turn off all the lights in your house, the wasp will eventually fly towards the exit where it can see light.
- Using a vacuum cleaner. You can use a vacuum cleaner with powerful suction to suck the wasp. After that, you can take the vacuum outside and release the wasp.
If you have tried all these methods and nothing seems to be working, then you may have to resort to killing the wasp. Here are some ways to do it:
Swat the Wasp With a Flyswatter
A flyswatter provides an easy way to kill a wasp. It provides a way to kill the wasp from a distance.
Here is the procedure:
- Raise the flyswatter and remain calm. Sit strategically while raising the flyswatter and wait for the wasp to land. You must ensure you’re within easy reach of where the wasp is most likely to land.
- Snap the swatter down on the wasp quickly. As soon as it lands, promptly snap the flyswatter down on top of it. The wasp will die instantly.
- Remove the dead wasp. Use a paper towel to pick up the dead wasp and dispose of it in the garbage can. Be careful not to touch the stinger as it can still release venom.
Alternatively, you can use a shoe, a heavy book, or a magazine in the place of a swatter.
Use Insecticide Spray
Insecticide spray is a fast-acting method that will kill the wasp on contact. You can use any insecticide spray that is labeled to kill wasps.
Here are some tips to use:
- Spray the insecticide around the perimeter of your house. Wasps typically build their nests around the eaves of houses. Therefore, you should start by spraying the insecticide around your house’s perimeter.
- Use a long-extension sprayer. A long-extension sprayer will enable you to reach high areas where wasps like to build their nests.
- Spray the insecticide directly into the nest. Once you’ve located the nest, aim the spray directly into the opening.
- Cover the nest. After spraying the insecticide, you should cover the nest with a plastic bag or a piece of cloth. This will prevent other wasps from entering or leaving the nest.
- Let the insecticide work its magic. The wasp will die within 10 to 15 seconds of being exposed to the insecticide.
Use Soapy Water
Soapy water provides an excellent and cost-effective way to kill wasps in your house. Soap clogs wasps’ spiracles, which are the pores that they use to breathe. This will eventually kill the wasp.
Here is how you can use soapy water to kill a wasp:
- Mix water and dish soap in a spray bottle. Fill a spray bottle with water and add two tablespoons of dish soap. Ensure to shake the solution thoroughly.
- Spray the soapy water on the wasp. Aim the spray directly at the wasp and drench it in soapy water.
The wasp will suffocate and die within seconds.
Here is a video that demonstrates how to make the soapy solution:
How to Prevent Wasps From Your House
Wasps are fond of building nests in places like:
- The eaves of houses
- Trees
- Holes in the ground
You can prevent wasps from building nests in your house by:
- Sealing any cracks or crevices around your home. This will help prevent wasps from getting into your house.
- Keeping food and garbage sealed. Wasps are attracted to food and litter. Therefore, it’s essential to keep these sealed, especially the sweet-smelling foods.
- Avoiding perfumes and colognes. Perfumes and colognes attract wasps since they are sweet-smelling. Therefore, it’s best to avoid or minimize their use at home.
- Planting wasp-repelling plants. Plant wasp-repelling plants instead of sweet-smelling flowers. Some wasp-repelling plants include marigold, mint, wormwood, basil, and geranium.
- Checking for nests. conduct a regular check for wasp nests and destroy them as soon as you find them. This prevents them from growing into larger nests that can be challenging to remove.
Conclusion
Wasps use pheromones to communicate, especially when they are killed. However, the release of this chemical does not necessarily attract more wasps; it only alerts them of impending danger.
It’s worth mentioning that some social wasps may be attracted to the smell of pheromones, exposing you to the risk of getting stung.
