Why Blocking Off a Wasp Nest Entry Point While Wasps are Active is a Terrible Idea

Rockland Bee Removal

Discovering a wasp nest near your home can be unsettling, and it’s natural to want to address the situation quickly. However, blocking off the entry point to a wasp nest while the wasps are still active using foam or caulking is one of the worst things you can do. It may seem like a quick solution, but it will actually make the situation far more dangerous. Here’s why:

Wasps Will Not Just Die Inside the Wall

Many believe that sealing off a wasp nest will trap the wasps inside, leading to their eventual death. However, wasps are resourceful insects. If they find their primary exit blocked, they won’t simply give up and die—they’ll seek another way out. More often than not, this new escape route will lead them into your home. Once that happens it gets much more difficult to control.

Sealed wasps, desperate to escape, can chew through drywall, and other materials, creating new entry points inside your house. They can also crawl through the walls and find small cracks around the room and will find their way inside. Imagine dozens of angry wasps suddenly emerging inside your living room—it’s a situation no one wants.

Nesting Behavior Will Continue

Sealing the nest’s entry point doesn’t solve the underlying issue. The queen and the colony inside the nest will continue their activities, expanding the nest and breeding more wasps. This only worsens the problem, as the nest can grow in size, creating even more aggressive wasps that could eventually find their way inside. Before sealing their entry point the nest must be fully treated so they are no longer alive inside the wall.

What You Should Do Instead

If you find a wasp nest near your home, do not attempt to seal the bees or wasps into the wall. Leave the entry point alone until the nest has been successfully treated or removed. it’s always best to contact a professional pest control service. They have the expertise and equipment to safely treat or remove the nest and deal with the wasps. Trying DIY methods, especially blocking entry points, will backfire and make the problem worse.
In conclusion, while it might seem like a quick fix, blocking off a wasp nest entry point with foam or another material is a terrible idea. The consequences—angry wasps entering your home, potential stings, and the nest continuing to thrive—are not worth the risk. Always seek professional help to ensure the problem is handled correctly.

Emergency Steps to Take When Wasps Are Already Getting Inside Your Home

If wasps are already getting inside your home, follow these steps to protect yourself and manage the situation until professionals can help:

Stay Calm: Wasps inside your home are likely to be agitated and aggressive. Stay calm and do not swat at them, as this can make them more likely to sting. Instead, take immediate action to contain them and protect yourself.

Isolate the Area: If possible, close the doors to the room where the wasps are entering. Seal any gaps under the doors with towels or blankets to prevent them from spreading to other parts of your home.

Turn Off Lights: Wasps are attracted to light. Wasps will gravitate to windows and lights. Keep lights on in rooms where they are active so they stay contained and keep lights off in areas where you don’t want them to go. This may help control their movement.

Use a Vacuum: Better than spraying chemicals indoors, a vacuum may me more helpful in removing wasps indoors.
A vacuum with a hose can suck up wasps quickly without needing to get too close, reducing your risk of being stung.
Additionally, it allows you to capture wasps without swatting or touching them. However, caution is necessary, as Wasps trapped inside the vacuum bag or canister may not die immediately and could escape if the vacuum isn’t airtight.

Monitor for Entry Points: Check for possible entry points where the wasps may be coming in. You can temporarily seal small gaps with duct tape or caulk.

Wasps entering a home

When is it safe to seal up the entry point?

Sealing a wasp nest entry point should only be done after the wasps have been completely eradicated and the nest has been safely removed or treated. Sealing the entry prematurely can lead to aggressive wasps trying to find alternative ways into your home, often resulting in damage or dangerous swarms inside. Here’s when and how to safely seal a wasp nest entry point:

The best time to seal a wasp nest entry point is after a pest control professional has treated the nest and confirmed that all the wasps are either dead or have been removed. A professional will use effective methods like insecticides that can kill the entire colony, including the queen. Once the colony is inactive, it’s safe to seal the entry point.

Even if you’ve applied a treatment yourself, it’s critical to make sure the nest is no longer active. Wasps can remain inside for days after treatment, so it’s important to watch for any activity around the entry point. You should wait at least a few days or even weeks after noticing no wasp activity before sealing the hole. If you’re unsure, contact a professional to confirm that the nest is dead.

Once it’s safe to seal the entry point, make sure you use appropriate materials to fully block the entry. Depending on the location of the nest (wall void, roof eave, etc.), materials like caulk, expanding foam, or weatherproof sealants may be suitable.

• For wall voids or crevices: Use caulk or expanding foam to fill gaps.
• For vents or larger openings: Make sure to use fine mesh screens in addition to sealing around the edges.

How Long Can I Wait to Seal up the Outside Entry Point?

Wasps are seasonal creatures. Most wasp colonies die off in late fall or winter, and the queen is the only one who survives by hibernating elsewhere. Queens typically do not reuse old nests or move into an existing nest during the same season. So, it’s unlikely that a new queen will take over the nest immediately after the original colony is gone.

However, during the following spring or summer, a new queen looking for a suitable nesting site might find your home an attractive spot if the old entry points and gaps aren’t sealed up. Sealing the entry point after the nest has been eradicated will ensure that a new colony won’t form in the same area next year.

When Should You Seal the Entry Point?

While there’s no urgent rush to seal the entry point, it’s a good idea to do it:
• After the wasps are completely eradicated.
• Before the next wasp season (spring) to prevent new queens from finding the spot.

When dealing with a wasp nest, blocking off the entry point while the wasps are still active is a dangerous mistake that can lead to aggressive wasps finding their way into your home, posing a significant threat to safety. If you’ve already made this error, it’s essential to stay calm, avoid disturbing the nest further, and call a professional pest control service to handle the situation.
Sealing the nest entry point should only be done after the wasps have been completely eradicated, either by professional treatment or DIY methods. Once the nest is inactive, sealing the entry is important to prevent future infestations, but there’s no immediate rush as new queens won’t move in until the following wasp season. However, sealing the area before spring will help prevent new colonies from forming. â—†

Share