Mention the word ‘wasp,’ and an anxious audience is likely to look around uncomfortably, ready to swat at anything that moves. Most notably associated with the well known yellow jackets, wasps actually come in various different sizes, shapes, and colorings. Because of the bad reputation that follows these insects, many removal sprays promise a quick kill of newly established colonies. Unfortunately, pushing the trigger of the spray can too quickly lead to the eradication of one of the most beneficial insects around. Humane wasp removal services remind consumers that there is a distinctive place in the landscape for wasps and the ecosystems they support.
An examination of wasps and the ecosystems in which they thrive paints a very different picture from the aggressive insect that attacks humans (which, of course, is responsible for the creation and sale of so many removal chemicals). Advocates for humane relocation repeat the information that urban residents may not have heard lately: the average wasp is actually a parasite that helps control unwanted insects such as spiders, flies and garden pests. Rather than calling for removal, eco-friendly farmers capitalize on their usefulness and oftentimes import these maligned insects as bio-control agents for naturally occurring pests that have the power to threaten an entire harvest. It is also important to identify the “dangerous” insect correctly. Not all wasps are aggressive, and most, if left alone pose no imminent danger to yourselves or your children.
Many people worry about these creatures in their neighborhoods and near their families. It is important to remember that finding a single wasp does not mean there is a colony near your home. If large numbers are found in or around a home, and especially if they seem to be aggressive, a professional should be called to investigate and remove them. However, locating the colony is a critical component to removal.
Out of respect for the insect and the ecosystems in which they exist, humane removal is of paramount importance. Sure, the use of a pesticide would be quick and simple, but it would also rob the environment of its natural pest control agents. In fact, the use of pesticides can also have a host of unintended consequences, especially when beneficial insects – such as aphid consuming ladybugs – may inadvertently fall victim to the killer mist as well.
With the benefits of these wasps and the ecosystem firmly in mind, removal professionals initially locate the nest and size up the colony. Small nests are very simple to remove and do not require an extensive relocation. Those that are well established may contain as many as 15,000 insects, and any removal must be done by an expert who can handle the live insects without causing a swarm. It is interesting to note that this kind of activity frequently has to take place after dark, when the offenders are less likely to react quickly.
Beware of companies that promise humane removal but still proceed to kill the animals after capture. Even though these outfits do not use deadly gas or harmful chemicals to get rid of wasps, they nevertheless rob the ecosystem of its beneficial predatory parasites. Moreover, the loss of even one colony of insects can be quite significant in that it also robs other desirable animals – such as birds – of their food sources. Relocation keeps the insects in the food chain by merely altering the location of the nests.
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