If you notice buzzing near your porch, attic, or eaves, you may have a stinging insect infestation. In Michigan, yellowjackets, hornets, carpenter bees, paper wasps, and bumblebees often return to the same spots near homes. Exclusion is one of the best ways to stop them.
Exclusion keeps pests out by sealing cracks and gaps before insects can build nests. For Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids homes, this is more effective than wasp spray or other DIY repellents.
With exclusion, you reduce wasp stings, carpenter bee damage, and yellowjacket aggression.
Key Takeaways
- Exclusion for wasps and bees involves sealing entry points and removing attractants to prevent nesting.
- DIY sprays, traps, and essential oils may repel pests, but they do not stop new nests from forming.
- Paper wasps, hornets, yellowjackets, honeybees, carpenter bees, and bumblebees each require different strategies.
- Pest Pros of Michigan offers comprehensive pest control and exclusion services, backed by warranties for lasting results.
Understanding Exclusion for Wasps and Bees
Exclusion is a preventive service that keeps wasps and bees out of your home. Wasps build nests under eaves, inside vents, and around sheds. Carpenter bees bore into untreated wood to make nesting tunnels. Honey bees and bumble bees may use wall cavities, while hornets and bald-faced hornets choose trees or rooflines.
Sealing entry points, adding screens, and removing attractants help keep wasps away through the season and into next year.
Why Stinging Insects Target Your Property
Stinging insects seek three primary things: food, water, and shelter. Yellowjackets scavenge around trash cans, grills, and sugary drinks left outside. Hornets build enclosed nests in tree branches and attic corners. Paper wasps build umbrella-shaped nests under porch roofs or soffits. Carpenter bees drill into railings and siding to lay eggs.
Gardens often attract pollinators, such as honeybees and bumblebees. Bright colors from flowers or hummingbird feeders make yards appealing, but if a bee nest forms near entryways, the risk of stings increases.
When exclusion is not in place, these insects return to the same spots every year. Sealing cracks, painting wood to deter carpenter bees, and limiting attractants can reduce future nesting activity.
Exclusion vs DIY Pest Control
DIY efforts often use dish soap sprays, essential oils, or store-bought wasp traps. Some homeowners plant marigolds and geraniums as a natural deterrent against pests.
Others rely on wasp repellent candles or bee repellent products sold online. These DIY methods may provide temporary relief, but pests often quickly rebuild or return each season.
Exclusion fixes the root cause by sealing nesting sites and removing attractants. At Pest Pros of Michigan, our team may apply products such as Waspfreeze or Bifen to remove active colonies, then seal the structure to stop re-infestation.
Common Stinging Insects in Michigan
Michigan homes encounter a wide range of wasps and bees:
- Paper wasps: Build nests under eaves or porch ceilings; less aggressive than yellowjackets but will sting if disturbed.
- Yellow jackets: Highly aggressive; nest in the ground, wall voids, or shrubs. They become more hostile in late summer as food supplies decline.
- Hornets and bald-faced hornets: Larger wasps that build enclosed, football-shaped nests on trees or siding. They defend their colonies aggressively.
- Carpenter bees: Bore into wood to build nests for their larvae, causing cosmetic and sometimes structural damage over time.
- Honey bees: Essential pollinators; when they nest in homes, beekeepers can often relocate them.
- Bumble bees: Larger and fuzzier than honey bees; they often nest underground and will sting if disturbed.
Correct identification matters. Each type of wasp or bee has its own nesting sites, attractants, and behaviors.
How Pest Pros of Michigan Handles Exclusion
When you call, we start with a site inspection. Our exterminator identifies the species, checks nesting sites, and looks for larvae in active nests. If removal is needed, we use safe products and methods, then seal entry points.
Exclusion services may include:
- Sealing cracks in siding, soffits, and eaves.
- Screening vents and attic openings.
- Treating and plugging carpenter bee holes.
- Cleaning up attractants such as garbage, compost piles, or food sources near patios.
We may suggest deterrents like peppermint oil, citronella, or marigolds in busy outdoor areas. These help repel pests, while exclusion prevents re-infestation. Our pest control plans include warranties on exclusion work, giving homeowners confidence that wasps and bees will not return.
Natural and Preventive Repellents
Exclusion is the most effective defense, with natural repellents providing extra protection. Peppermint oil in a spray bottle, citronella candles, and plants like lemongrass or geraniums can help deter pests near patios.
Bee repellent sprays discourage honey bees from nesting in siding, while citrus or almond oil may deter carpenter bees. Lasting protection comes from sealing wood, painting beams, and plugging old holes.
Wasp traps lure pests with sweet baits and may temporarily reduce their numbers. Exclusion is the only method that prevents new nest activity.
Protecting Your Michigan Home with Exclusion
The best time to stop stinging insects is before a wasp nest forms. Exclusion blocks entry points to lower that risk.
In Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and surrounding areas, Pest Pros of Michigan offers professional stinging insect control services backed by local expertise.
Protect your family and home this season. Contact us today to schedule your inspection.
FAQs
How does exclusion keep wasps away?
Exclusion seals gaps around eaves, siding, and attics to help prevent wasps from nesting. Removing food and water sources also makes your home less attractive.
Will exclusion harm bees or the environment?
No. Exclusion focuses on sealing and repairs. When honey bees are involved, we work with local beekeepers for relocation. We apply targeted treatments only when necessary and always follow label and safety guidelines.
What is the best way to get rid of carpenter bees?
Use deterrents like peppermint or citrus oil, then seal and paint bare wood and plug old holes. Pair these steps with exclusion for the best long-term results.
