Buzz Off: How to Keep Wasps Out of Your Car

a wasp on a car window trying to get inside a georgia car

a wasp on a car window trying to get inside a georgia carSummertime in Georgia brings sunny days, open roads, and unfortunately, some unwelcome visitors—wasps. These buzzing insects have a knack for finding their way into the smallest of spaces, including your beloved car. Thankfully, there are some easy steps you can take to make sure wasps don’t invade your space. Read on to learn top wasp prevention tips from the experts at Active Pest Control!

Why Do Wasps Build Nests in Cars?

It may seem strange that wasps choose cars for their nesting site, but there are actually a few reasons why vehicles are a top choice for many stinging insects. Wasps often build nests in cars because: 

  • Cars have plenty of shelter: Just like us, wasps appreciate a cozy shelter. Your car’s various nooks and crannies provide ideal spots for their nests. From the gaps under the hood to the crevices in the door panels, they’ll happily take advantage of any available space.
  • Ventilation makes for easy access: Wasps are resourceful little creatures. They’re drawn to cars because of the air vents, which provide excellent ventilation for their nests. The steady flow of air allows their offspring to breathe comfortably, and who can blame them for wanting a breeze during hot Georgia summers?
  • Old crumbs provide plenty of food: Wasps have a notorious sweet tooth. They’re attracted to sugary substances, such as spilled beverages or food remnants, that might be lurking inside your car. These tantalizing snacks serve as extra motivation for them to explore and establish their nests.
  • Sedentary cars are secluded: Wasps are crafty creatures that prefer to build their nests in hidden locations, away from prying eyes and curious predators. The protected environment of your car provides them with the perfect camouflage, shielding their nests from unwanted attention.

How to Keep Wasps Out of Your Car

Now that we understand why wasps find cars so appealing, it’s time to unleash our arsenal of preventive measures:

  • Remove any trash and vacuum regularly
  • Keep windows and doors closed
  • Avoid letting your car sit unused 
  • Seal any cracks with mesh or tape
  • Park in sheltered areas if possible
  • Inspect beneath the hood and in the trunk

What to Do if You Have Wasps in Your Car

Despite your best efforts, it’s possible that wasps might come inside your car. If this happens, it’s crucial to remain calm and take the appropriate steps to handle the situation safely. Here’s what you should do:

  • Stay Calm and Pull Over: If you notice wasps flying inside your car while driving, keep your cool and pull over to a safe location. Panicking or swatting at the wasps can lead to accidents or stings.
  • Open All Windows and Doors: Once you’ve safely parked, roll down all the windows and open the doors. This allows the wasps a clear exit path and encourages them to fly out of the vehicle.
  • Exit Slowly and Carefully: Exit the car slowly and cautiously, making sure not to disturb or provoke the wasps. Move away from the vehicle to a safe distance, preferably to an area without any wasp activity.
  • Call a Professional Wasp Exterminator: If you discover a wasp nest inside your car, don’t try to remove it yourself. Wasps can become aggressive when their nest is threatened, and their stings are painful and potentially dangerous. Instead, seek assistance from a professional wasp control company.

Finding wasps in your car can be a terrifying experience, but the experts at Active Pest Control are here to help! Our state-certified technicians have years of experience handling buzzing insects throughout Georgia, and they know how to quickly and safely remove wasps. To get fast wasp removal services, give us a call today!

3 Important Facts about Wasps and Hornets

Because of the possibility of painful hornet stings, it’s necessary to make sure that in combating their presence, you’re working with pest control specialists who are trained in getting rid of these creatures safely and quickly. Improper disposal of a hornet’s next may cause these creatures to swarm and attack the person who is disturbing […]

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Top Tips for Pest-Free Outdoor Living

Avoid mosquitoes in your Atlanta GA backyard with tips from Active Pest ControlWith summer winding down, you’re likely wanting to spend as much time outdoors as possible. Whether you are hosting a backyard barbecue or reading out on your patio at night, the last thing you want to deal with is a pest problem. Mosquitoes, ticks, flies, lawn pests, and wasps are just a few of the many pests that can become quite a nuisance. At Active Pest Control, we know you want to enjoy your time spent in your outdoor living spaces to be pest-free*, which is why we’re here to provide you with our top tips for pest-free* outdoor living in your Atlanta area home.

Common Pests in Your Yard

The time of year that provides nice enough weather for you to be outdoors is also the time of year when pests are most active! Whether you have a garden in your backyard or couches and tables on your deck, you will likely encounter some of the following pests:

How to Prevent Pests in Your Outdoor Living Space

To keep pests away when you’re in your yard, there are several things you can do. The best ways to keep pests away in your outdoor space are as follows.

  1. Get rid of standing water. Mosquitoes only need a half inch of standing water to breed.
  2. Keep your lawn and shrubs trimmed. Overgrown grass or vegetation provides mosquitoes and ticks with shelter.
  3. Know how to look for ant hills. Even a tiny mound can contain thousands of ants inside.
  4. Check wood structures. Termites and carpenter bees will damage your wooden decks or porches.
  5. Use an insect repellent. Insect repellent containing DEET will help repel mosquitoes and ticks.
  6. Clean your patio or space regularly. Crumbs or spilled liquids will attract ants and other insects.

Year-Long Pest-Free Living

Pests are just a fact of life outside. However, you don’t have to let them ruin your time spent in your own backyard! For help implementing pest-free* outdoor living tips, the experts at Active Pest Control can help. Contact our residential exterminators to learn more.

Yellow Jackets & Wasps in Georgia

The arrival of summer is a bit like welcoming back an old friend. So many memories are made during this season – days at the pool or beach, eating your weight in barbecue and peaches at the Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival and spending time right in your backyard. Of course some memories have a little sting to them. We’re talking about hornets, yellow jackets and other stinging insects that also show up.

Dealing with stinging insects in Georgia is nothing new. Though they have their merits (you know, eating other insects or in the case of bees, pollinating our crops and flowers), there is a reason we often liken a bad situation to stepping into a hornet’s nest.

For the most part yellow jackets and hornets are relatively peaceful towards us. If you stay out of their way, they’ll likely reciprocate. If you threaten them, however, be prepared to run or face a sting (or several). Oftentimes, dads rouse these pests when using the lawn mower or other loud equipment or kids come too close to a nest.

So how do you avoid stinging encounters. As with any pest, knowledge is the best way to protect your family’s health and safety. Yellow jackets are often mistaken for bees because they also have yellow and black stripes. One notable difference, they do not have the fuzzy, round appearance that bees do. Their bodies are smoother and narrower. For the most part, yellow jackets are ground-nesters but yellow jackets nests have been found in eaves, under porches, bushes and even in wall voids. Bald-faced hornets are long, lean stinging pests with pinched waists. They are mostly black with white faces and build their nests off the ground in shrubs, on houses and other buildings.

A sting from either of these pests may result in a welt and some discomfort. For those who are allergic, the reaction may be significantly more and require medical attention. An important attribute to note, both yellow jackets and hornets have the ability to sting more than once and if that occurs, children, elderly and others may experience more severe symptoms. If you’ve been stung by one of these guys and are not experiencing life-threatening symptoms, you can grab an ice pack for the swelling. Over-the-counter medicines like Acetaminophen may also help with pain but we encourage you to talk to your doctor before administering any kind of pain relief. We’re pest people not medical professionals.

If you discover a nest near your home, please walk away and leave it where it is. Contact Active Pest Control for help removing the nest. Our pest control professionals have the knowledge and tools to safely take care of yellow jackets, hornets and other stinging pests. Don’t take chances with your family’s health, enjoy your summer and call us if you find stinging insects taking over your property!