Combat Fall Wasps & Yellow Jackets!

Why Are Wasps and Yellow Jackets Worse in the Fall?

If you’ve noticed more wasps and yellow jackets buzzing around your yard or yellow jackets crashing your fall gatherings, you’re not imagining it. In Missouri, these stinging insects become more aggressive in late summer and early fall as their colonies begin to die off.

Here’s what’s happening:

• Food scarcity: Their main food sources—like nectar and insects—dwindle as temperatures drop, making your sugary drinks, snacks, and even trash more appealing.

• Colony collapse: Worker wasps and yellow jackets have a short lifespan. By fall, they’re stressed, desperate for food, and more likely to sting.

• Nesting sites: Nests hidden in trees, gutters, siding, or underground burrows may go unnoticed until activity peaks.

Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Wasps and Yellow Jackets

A sting from a wasp or yellow jacket is painful enough, but for anyone allergic, it can be dangerous—even life-threatening. These insects:

• Defend aggressively when their nest is disturbed.

• Attack in swarms, especially yellow jackets.

• Sting multiple times (unlike honeybees).

For families with kids or pets playing outside, wasps in October are a serious safety concern.

Tips to Reduce Fall Stinging Insects Around Your Home

While complete elimination requires professional treatment, you can take steps to reduce attraction:

1. Cover food and drinks outdoors – Wasps are drawn to sweets and proteins.

2. Seal garbage bins tightly – Trash is a top food source in the fall.

3. Inspect eaves, decks, and sheds – Look for small papery nests or ground burrows.

4. Avoid swatting – Quick movements can trigger an attack.

5. Keep yards clean – Pick up fallen fruit, cover compost, and maintain landscaping.

Professional Solutions You Can Trust

DIY sprays rarely eliminate the entire colony, especially with underground or hidden nests. Our licensed technicians at Vogelsang Pest Management know how to safely locate and remove nests while preventing future infestations.

Don’t let stinging insects ruin your fall gatherings—or risk a dangerous sting.

👉 Call Vogelsang Pest Management today at 314-582-3800 or request service online to reclaim your yard this fall.