Late Summer Wasps and the Fall Surge: What's Coming Next
If wasps are already buzzing around your porch, garden, or trash bins, you're not alone. Right now, early August is one of the busiest times of year for wasp activity in Maine, and they’re only going to get bolder over the next several weeks.
At Advanced Pest Solutions, we’ve been getting more and more calls from homeowners dealing with nests tucked under eaves, inside sheds, or buried deep in shrubs. If you’ve noticed more of these aggressive fliers lately, here’s why it’s happening, what to expect next, and how to keep your property protected.
Why Wasps Are So Active Right Now
By this point in the summer, most wasp colonies have fully developed. Queens have been laying eggs since spring, and now their workers are out in large numbers, searching for food for the colony and themselves.
This is when you’ll start to see them hovering near:
Trash cans and recycling bins
Picnic tables and barbecue grills
Fruit trees and overripe produce
Hummingbird feeders or sugary drinks
They are bold, persistent, and not shy about getting up close. As food competition increases, so does their aggressiveness.
Where They're Nesting Around Maine Homes
Late summer is also the time of year when hidden nests begin to cause trouble. Some common nesting sites we’ve been seeing include:
Roof overhangs and soffits
Porch ceilings and deck railings
Sheds, barns, and garages
Dense shrubs and bushes
Inside wall voids and attic corners
Sometimes homeowners don’t realize a nest exists until someone gets stung while mowing, gardening, or simply walking past.
What to Expect in the Weeks Ahead
While wasps are already active, they won’t go away for several more weeks. In central and coastal Maine, it’s common for wasp activity to stay high through September, especially during warm years. The closer we get to fall, the more food sources deplete, and the more defensive and unpredictable wasps can be.
During this time, wasps are most likely to sting without much provocation. That’s also when we start getting more calls from folks who’ve found nests too close to their doorways, decks, or other spots where people spend a lot of time.
How to Reduce Wasp Problems Right Now
Here are a few ways you can cut down on wasp activity and avoid encounters as summer winds down:
Cover drinks and food outdoors, especially sweet stuff like soda, juice, and jam.
Seal trash and compost bins tightly, as wasps quickly find any open or sticky container.
Pick up fallen fruit in the yard. It doesn’t matter if it’s ripe or rotten; it will attract them.
Sweet and floral-smelling perfumes, lotions, and soaps attract wasps, so avoid wearing them outdoors.
Look for nests, including under eaves, inside sheds, and in dense vegetation.
Do not, we repeat, do not try to remove a nest yourself. Wasps are quick to defend their homes, and stings can happen quickly. Let the professionals handle it.
Dealing With Wasps? We’ve Got You Covered
If you’ve already noticed a nest, or if wasps are making it hard to enjoy your yard, give Advanced Pest Solutions a call. We provide effective and ongoing pest control for Central and Coastal Maine homeowners, including Farmington, Topsham, and Augusta. Whether it is a nest in your eave or a hidden colony in your shed, we will take care of it before it becomes a bigger problem. Moreover, our residential pest control plan also targets ants, beetles, spiders, mice, and other nuisance and potentially harmful or damaging pests!
The wasps are here. Let’s make sure they do not ruin the rest of your summer. Contact Advanced Pest Solutions today!