Finally, the snow is melted, and the chilly spring is a thing of the past. Canadians only get a few months to enjoy outdoor weather in the brief gap between inhospitable seasons. It’s crucial to get all the pleasure from it you can, while you can.

Many people get all excited to finally revel in those long hot summer nights before being cruelly reminded of another threat: stings from wasps and bees. How can you mitigate these threats and reclaim your backyard pleasure?

What even are the differences between bees and wasps and the nests they make? Reviewing this gives homeowners some important facts and tidbits that will help them enjoy their outdoor space safely.

Sting Once or More

Honeybees have a famously kamikaze nature in that they die after stinging people. Their stinger gets lodged in human skin as they try to fly away, resulting in their death. However, other kinds of bees can sting people multiple times.

Wasps can sting repeatedly, too. The idea that all bees die after one sting is a bit of an urban myth. Some bees don’t even sting at all! Sadly, homeowners can’t even take comfort in knowing that if they get stung by a bee, the bee will definitely die.

However, wasp season is a different thing altogether, as they can sting over and over again.

Avoid Attractants

There are a few things homeowners can do to help discourage bees and wasps from building nests in their backyards. For example, wasps are predatory carnivores, and they’ll eat your pet’s food if they get the chance — never leave pet food sitting out in the open.

Gardening is a wonderful hobby that makes your backyard a beautiful space to hang out. Plus, strong and healthy plants naturally repel wasps in case you need another reason to mind your yard. They also take to rotting tree branches, clogged gutters, and messy shrubs. Tending your lawn and roof will help keep them away.

Wasps tend to like burrowing in loose boards, gaps, cracks, and other places associated with maintenance or repair work. Even burrows in your yard might be a sign that wasps have taken nest.

Finally, wasps also tend to like standing water, so make sure there are no vessels from children’s toys to tires collecting rainwater.

In general, keeping a neat, tidy, maintained yard helps repel wasps. However, sometimes stinging insects appear in your yard despite all these efforts taken.

Fake Nests and More as a Psych-Out

Nobody likes being near wasps, including other wasps. Use this to your advantage by hanging a fake wasp nest in the backyard.

Wasps stay 200 feet away from other colonies. This classic bit of misdirection can keep you safe and pre-emptively prevent stings. Other things wasps don’t like include peppermint oil. Mix one tablespoon of peppermint oil with 16 ounces of water, then spray targeted areas once a day to keep the wasps away.

Soap and baby powder can also repel wasps effectively. Use the same ratio on a soap spray that you would with peppermint oil, or dab some baby powder in areas where wasps seem to congregate. Of course, if you need wasp powder in Ontario that will fix the problem quickly and comprehensively, don’t hesitate to call us.

We service homes and businesses across Southern Ontario, from Toronto’s downtown core to the GTA and far beyond.

Removing Wasp Nests

If repelling the wasps fails, you need the nest eliminated. Caution: do not attempt this by yourself! GreenLeaf Pest Control offers wasp nest removal in Toronto and the GTA, so homeowners have a quick, easy, and safe solution.

There are other ways you can upset the nest, such as spraying an aerosol can on the nest entrance at night. This will make them angry! Don’t stand directly underneath the nest, and make sure you have an escape route in mind.

Wasp nests tend to be largest in late summer, making them easy to spot. But that doesn’t mean you should take this work on yourself! Our experienced technicians wear safety equipment and have the know-how to handle the nest and dispose of it safely.

More About Bees Nests

Bees tend to be less aggressive than wasps, as they collect pollen where wasps are hunters. Bees have one sting in them, so they’re not in a mad rush to use it.

Mid-to-late July is the high season for bees, so be careful if you see a nest and don’t go poking it! If you’re planning a BBQ and find bees in the yard, wear long sleeves to minimize exposed skin.

They also tend to chase after sweet beverages, like lemonade or soft drinks. Most people don’t want to feel constricted on their own property — if you want to live freely without minding for stinging insects, call GreenLeaf Pest Control for Toronto bee removal to reclaim your outdoor space.

Just the sight of a bee is enough to put a little fright into most people, from children to adults. People may have strong allergic reactions, and even if they don’t, the sound and stinger put a damper on an otherwise lovely summer afternoon.

Our Toronto pest control services will remove any bee nest promptly, safely, and in an environmentally friendly way.

Most people don’t want to become experts in stinging insects. They might talk about how the ongoing survival of bees is necessary because, as pollinators, they play such a crucial role in maintaining our ecosystem’s equilibrium and stability. But that doesn’t mean they want them thriving in their backyard when they have guests over.

And wasps in Ontario are even more dangerous and threatening! Bees and wasps are different and similar in some ways, but whichever one you have buzzing in your backyard, call Greenleaf Pest Control and our friendly, experienced, and professional technicians will handle it immediately.