For many homeowners and gardeners, how to get rid of sand wasps has been the order of the day. On properties with exposed soft or sandy soil, you may find burrows that have been made (constructed) by sand wasps.
Ants and wasps are beneficial insects that prey on flies and other insects that may seem a nuisance to your surrounding environment (pests), so it is not always necessary to control them. When populations however increase, you risk being stung, just by wandering too close to their burrows.
In this article, we will be telling you how to identify sand wasps and how to get rid of sand wasps on your property.
How To Get Rid of Sand Wasps?
How to get rid of sand wasps has been made easy with this 4-step processes listed below:
- Identification
- Inspection
- Control
- Prevention
Read also: How To Get Rid of Thief Ants
How Do I Identify a Sand Wasp On My Property?
The first thing you should do in any pest control plan is to identify what exactly you’re dealing with. Careless identification can lead to wrong treatment methods that may cost you time and money.
There are over 1,200 species of sand wasps in North America. Sand wasps typically grow up to one inch in length, with some species growing up to 2 inches. Compared to other wasps, they have stouter bodies with black and yellow or black and white patterns, transparent wings, and large compound eyes.
How Do I Inspect For Sand Wasps On My Property?
Inspection is the next phase of any good pest control plan. Once you have been able to identify your pest, you now know what your pests look like. The next thing to do is to inspect and check around your property to confirm the presence of the pest you just identified or find hot spots of activity.
Sand wasps are solitary hunting wasps that will create nests in loose or sandy soil. Although they are solitary insects, several wasps may establish themselves near each other within the same vicinity.
Burrows are usually found in gardens, lawns, playgrounds, recreational areas, and other areas that are bare or have little vegetation. The female sand wasps will lay their eggs in these burrows and fill them with prey.
They primarily hunt flies like house flies, deer flies, or even mosquitoes. But they will also prey upon grasshoppers, stink bugs, and caterpillars among other things. Adult sand wasps tend to fly no higher than t3 feet above the ground.
These wasps are active during the day and can be seen actively hunting or feeding on pollen and nectar from nearby flowers.
Read also: How to Get Rid of Ensign Wasps
How To Get Rid Of Sand Wasps?
After identifying your pests and inspecting for activities on your property, it is now time to start treatment. Before starting any treatment, be sure to wear your personal protective equipment (PPE) and remember to keep all people and pets off the treated areas until dry.
When dealing with sting pests like wasps, always use caution and keep yourself protected. Even though sand wasps are docile (submissive), it is best you cover up as much exposed skin as possible with a professional bee suit to prevent stings.
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D Fense Dust:
To treat sand wasps on your property we recommend you start with d fense dust. The d fense dust is a dry moisture-resistant insecticidal dust made with 0.05% Delta Mathurin. Use this as a barrier to treat sand wasps that have tried to enter or exit their burrows.
Apply this product as it is stated on the label (rate of 0.5 pounds, per 1,000 square feet). We recommend you use a handheld duster with a long narrow extension tube to treat nest entrances from a safe distance.
Gently apply the d fense dust to the entrance and the area around the entrance until they are thoroughly coated. D fense dust will treat pests that may come in contact with the product, killing them within one to two hours.
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Stryker Wasp and Hornet Killer:
When possible, you can directly treat sand wasps traveling throughout your property or emerging from their burrows with a wasp killer spray insecticide like stryker wasp and Hornet killer.
This product is made with 0.1 % of Prallethrin and will immediately knock down any wasps that make contact with the spray. ensuring burrows and pests on your property are treated.
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Supreme IT:
You will then want to apply a residual insecticide barrier to repel sand wasps from your property and we recommend a product like Supreme IT. The Supreme IT is an insecticide concentrate made with 7.9% bifenthrin which when applied this product will leave repelling residuals that will last for up to 90 days.
To treat sand wasps apply this product as a perimeter treatment. Make 1 fluid ounce of product with 1 gallon of water to treat 1,000 square feet. Once your solution is mixed, broadcast the product over your lawn and treat the ornamental plants and foliage on your property.
Spray above and beneath the leaves and spray to the point of wetness but not run off. Allow the product to dry completely before letting anyone through the yard.
Read also: D Fense Dust | How To Use
How Do I Prevent a Sand Wasp Infestation?
Prevention is essential to keeping pests in check. Even after you have applied pesticides, the best way to stop past activity is to make sure it cannot happen. Sand wasps prefer bare and loose dirt areas.
You may want to consider growing plants or grass to minimize exposed soil and thicken the local vegetation. We also recommend you rake your lawn and your nest areas frequently to cause wasps to relocate.
Conclusion
Additionally, we also recommend you keep up with your regular applications of supreme IT. The Supreme IT will control treated areas for up to 90 days, so apply treatments quarterly for year-round protection.
Sand wasps may pose a problem for many homeowners and Avid gardeners, but there are ways to control an infestation that has gone out of hand with these professional products and tips from @pestclue.
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