Wasp-free Wheels: How to Keep Your Car Sting-Free

a wasp on a car window wants to get inside

Imagine cruising through Albuquerque, basking in the sun, and enjoying the scenic drive. Suddenly, you hear a buzzing sound and spot a wasp zipping around inside your car. Talk about unwelcome passengers. They do not contribute to gas money, and personal space means nothing to them. But fear not; in this blog, we’ll teach you how to prevent wasps from infesting your car. The following tips will keep those pesky wasps and their nests out of your precious wheels.

Why Do I Have Wasps in My Car?

Wasps love dark, warm places to set up shop, and your car fits the bill perfectly. They can squeeze through tiny openings like windows, sunroofs, or vents. They might even hitch a ride on your clothes, bags, or snacks, finding cozy spots under seats, in the glove box, or even in the trunk.

What Attracts Wasps to My Car?

Wasps have a few weaknesses that can lead them straight to your car:

  • Leftover food and drinks: These winged critters have a sweet tooth and crave protein. They are not picky and will happily indulge in fruits, soda, candy, meat, cheese, or anything you leave behind. Calories and expiration dates mean nothing to them; they want a free feast.
  • Flowers and plants nearby: Wasps feed on nectar and pollen and can follow enticing scents to your vehicle. They will not consider your allergies or preferences; they are simply after a sweet treat.
  • Fragrant products inside: Air fresheners, perfumes, or lotions can confuse wasps, making them mistake those scents for a tasty meal. They will not consider your style or mood; they are just curious sniffers.
  • Idle cars: If your wheels sit unused for too long, wasps might view it as an open invitation to build their home. They will not care about your schedule or plans; they want a cozy spot to settle in.

How to Prevent Wasps From Nesting in Your Car

To prevent wasp invasions and protect your car sanctuary, follow these simple tips:

  • Maintain a clean car.
  • Seal any openings.
  • Choose shady parking spots.

Uh-oh, Wasps Inside! What Now?

If you encounter wasps in your car, stay calm and follow these steps:

  • If the car is moving, find a place to safely park it: The wasp might be dangerous, but driving erratically is much more dangerous. Obey all traffic laws in finding a safe place to stop.
  • Move away slowly: Avoid swatting or sudden movements that might provoke the wasp(s). Nonchalantly act like nothing is bothering you.
  • Call the pros: Leave the wasp wrangling to the experts. Do not attempt DIY methods or hop in the car. Contact a professional pest control company immediately.

Trust Pest Defense Solutions

Pest Defense Solutions is the team you can count on when it comes to wasp removal from your car. As a local company serving Albuquerque since 2001, we have you covered with the following:

  • Prompt and reliable service: We will answer your call within 24 hours and provide same-day service if needed.
  • Environmentally friendly solutions: Our natural and organic products ensure safety for you, your family, your pets, and the environment.
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee: We stand behind our work, offering a quality guarantee and following up to ensure your satisfaction.

Do not let wasps spoil your day or damage your wheels. Contact Pest Defense Solutions today for a free professional pest control service quote. We will help you bid farewell to those buzzing intruders so you can enjoy your car in peace. We promise not to leave you with a sting.

Natural Ways You Can Repel Bees and Wasps

Three bees on a yellow flower

Now that summer is here, many of us in the Albuquerque area will be spending more time outside. However, wasps and bees are also active in summer. Crossing paths with them can result in annoyance, stings and even serious allergic reactions. So, how can you keep bees and wasps from ruining your fun in the sun this summer naturally? Read on to find out.

Plants That Attract Bees & Wasps

Since bees and wasps are pollinators, naturally they’re attracted to plants. Here are plants that bees and/or wasps are especially fond of:

  • Black-eyed Susan
  • Honeysuckle
  • Lantana
  • Lilacs
  • Perennial Yarrow
  • Poppies
  • Pale Purple Coneflower
  • Sweet Fennel
  • Wisteria
  • Queen Anne’s Lace
  • Sedum
  • Snapdragon
  • Sunflowers

If you have any of these plants close to your home, consider moving them further away. Especially if they’re close to a patio or other heavily used outdoor space.

Plants That Repel Bees & Wasps

There are also several plants that repel bees and wasps, usually because they have a strong smell that bees and wasps dislike. These plants include:

  • Basil
  • Citronella
  • Geraniums
  • Marigolds
  • Peppermint
  • Spearmint
  • Thyme
  • Wormwood

If you’re looking to keep bees and wasps away and don’t mind the smell, consider adding some of these plants near the outdoor spaces of your home, such as a porch or patio.

Bees, Wasps and Food

Stinging insects, especially wasps, are also attracted to food. This can be a challenge because whether it’s barbecues, picnics or kids with ice cream, eating food outside is a part of summer. There are steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of stinging insects interfering with your barbecue or picnic: 

  • If you’re eating or drinking outside, remember to promptly put away food and drinks. 
  • When you put food in your trash can, make sure it’s securely closed. 
  • Keep sugary drinks closed or covered to keep bees and wasps out.

However, as is the case with plants, there are some food items that bees and wasps don’t like, including: 

  • Bay Leaves
  • Cinnamon
  • Cloves
  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Garlic
  • Sliced Cucumber
  • Vinegar

If you keep one or more of these close to you while you’re enjoying the outdoors, it could help keep bees and wasps away. For example, you could place cinnamon sticks or a glass of vinegar on a patio table. Or bring some sliced cucumber on a plate if you’re eating a meal outside.

 

How to Make an All-Natural Bug Repellent

Another way to keep stinging insects away naturally is to make an essential oil-based pest repellent spray. Wasps and bees are repelled by the smell of the essential oils below:

  • Citronella oil
  • Clove oil
  • Eucalyptus oil
  • Geranium oil
  • Peppermint oil
  • Rosemary oil

Simply combine two drops of essential oil per ounce of water to make a natural alternative to store bought insect repellent. 

 

Best Bee & Wasp Removal in Albuquerque NM 

If you have a serious infestation, these techniques may not be enough. You may need to hire a local pest control professional to get rid of the bees or wasps on your property. Pest Defense Solutions has been providing pest control services to the Albuquerque NM area since 2008. Contact us today to learn more and get a free quote!

6 Tips to Prevent Pests in Your Patio

Tips to stay pest-free in your Albuquerque NM backyard - Pest Defense Solutions

Whether you’ve had mosquitoes in your gutters or ants all over your barbeque, you know that pest problems can develop in a flash in your backyard. When the sun comes out for spring again, we all look to get out doors more often, but pests can quickly ruin your time spent outside. This is why it’s so important to learn how to make your property less attractive to pests in the first place. At Pest Defense Solutions, we know that pest problems riddle Albuquerque homes all year long. With our commitment to ensuring our customers are pest-free both inside and outside their homes, we’re sharing our top tips to prevent pests in your patio.

Pests to Lookout For in Your Outdoor Living Space

If you have an outdoor living space, you can be sure pests are going to explore it! Many pests are a nuisance to deal with, but a few can be more dangerous for you and your family. The pests you’ll see in your yard are mosquitoes, stinging insects (bees, wasps, and hornets), ants, spiders, ticks, fleas, and flies. Ticks and mosquitoes are especially concerning for their ability to transmit dangerous diseases to humans. Because these pests in particular are quite difficult to get rid of without a barrier treatment, it’s important to consult a professional exterminator if you are seeing either of these parasitic pests daily.

Tips to Prevent Pests in Backyard Patios

Pests are always a nuisance, but as we know, they can be dangerous, too. Mosquitoes, ticks, and stinging insects are three of the most common pest problems in backyards in spring. To help pest-proof your property from these bugs and more, you can do the following:

  • Trim your lawn and shrubs. Overgrown vegetation provides mosquitoes and ticks with shelter.
  • Search for ant hills and wasp nests. Even the tiniest nest can contain thousands of stinging insects.
  • Examine wood structures. Termites and carpenter bees will damage wooden decks or porches.
  • Cover or pour out standing water. Mosquitoes only need a half inch of standing water to breed.
  • Use an insect repellent. Insect repellent containing DEET will help repel mosquitoes and ticks.
  • Clean your patio or space regularly. Crumbs or spilled liquids will attract ants and other insects.

How to Get Rid of Pests in Your Backyard

Whether you have spotted a nest forming on your deck, an ant hill near your garden, or mosquitoes swarming your yard, it’s best to contact your local exterminator for help getting rid of them. At Pest Defense Solutions, we are dedicated to providing you with pest-free outdoor living. Contact us today to learn more and get a free quote!

What Happens to Bees in the Winter?

Honey bees in Albuquerque NM - Pest Defense Solutions

Many of us get through the winter by thinking about spring being on the way. With warming temperatures, new growth all around, and longer days, there are so many reasons to look forward to spring. However, springtime is riddled with insects here in Albuquerque NM. We often think of bees when we think about spring insects—they return to pollinate and thrive during the warmer months, then disappear again when it gets cold. So, where do bees go in the winter? The Pest Defense Solutions technicians have the answers!

Do Bees Hibernate During the Winter?

You’ve surely noticed that the number of bees around your home decreases significantly from the fall to the winter. After all, bees’ principal role in our ecosystem is to pollinate flowering plants, so what do bees do in the winter if they have nothing to pollinate? It actually depends on the species of bee—here are the ways that three common bees in Albuquerque NM handle the cold:

  • Carpenter bees: These solitary bees return to the nests that they emerged from in the spring to take shelter and attempt to survive the cold.
  • Honey bees: All of the male drone bees will die off when it gets too cold, but the female worker bees will stay together in the hive, surrounding the queen and vibrating for warmth.
  • Bumblebees: The sad truth is that almost every single bumblebee dies when winter rolls around. However, the queen will save herself, burrowing in the dirt or finding a premade shelter, like an empty bird’s nest, hollow log, or compost pile. She emerges again in the spring to repopulate.

How to Prepare for Bees Before Spring

Some people like having bees around their home, but when you let bees nest near your house, you always put yourself at risk of being stung. Additionally, if you let their numbers grow in your yard, they might end up constructing a new nest inside your walls or under your eaves. Take these steps in the winter to prevent bee problems from developing in the spring:

  1. Trim your plants and mow your lawn often to prevent nesting in overgrowth
  2. Fill animal burrows in your yard that could create nesting sites for bees
  3. Repair any cracks in your foundation, walls, or roofing to keep bees out
  4. Consider gardening further away from your home than usual
  5. Cover your trash and recycling cans outside with lids that seal

Need Help Bee-Proofing Your Home this Winter?

If you’ve dealt with bee problems year after year in your home in Albuquerque, it’s time to have your local pest control company take a look. At Pest Defense Solutions, we offer both preventative inspections that identify vulnerabilities around your home as well as safe, humane, and non-toxic bee nest removal strategies. Contact us today to learn more about our bee control services and receive a free quote!