Wasps and Gutter Maintenance
Gutters with guards are often touted as being basically maintenance free. While they may keep out some debris, they don’t protect against colonization by social wasps that prefer secluded areas to build their nests. You should inspect your gutters regularly and be on the lookout for any wasp activity in the vicinity of your roof.
European paper wasps are the most likely species you will encounter when cleaning your gutters. These insects typically only become aggressive and sting when their nests are disturbed. However, a home owner cannot ignore gutter maintenance to avoid the danger posed by wasps. A large paper wasp nest can easily clog the gutter system and make it basically useless. Also, one nest can turn into many in a fairly short period of time when the population is left unchecked. Young queens will build new nests as soon as they have the opportunity and will look for protected places to hibernate over the winter.
Controlling Social Wasps
Inspection for paper wasps is particularly important during the spring and autumn. The fall months are when the male drones are raised and the entire colony becomes easily agitated. These males fertilize numerous female queens who will then start building nests the next spring. The only effective method to control these pests is to spray a colony with wasp killer as soon as you detect the nest.
Spraying at dawn or dusk is most likely to kill the whole nest’s population. Wear heavy protective clothing and place the ladder as far as possible from the site you are spraying while still being in range to spray accurately. You don’t want the wasps swarming around you and causing you to lose your balance in a panic. After the nest’s population is completely eradicated, you may be able to use a coat hanger to detach the nest. If the nest is small enough, you can then use a hose to wash it through the downspout. Otherwise, you will have to disassemble that section of gutter to remove the nest.
Related posts:
- Gutter Maintenance Tips
- Gutter System Protection – Realistic Expectations
- Battle Of The Gutter Guards
- Coping With Clogged Gutter Downspouts
- Gutter Heater Systems
Tags: Gutters
