Effective Removal of Common Thread-Waisted Wasps: Tips and Techniques

Did you recently find a wasp with a long tail in your garden? It might be a thread-waisted wasp! Here’s how to get rid of common thread-waisted wasp without killing them. 

We know you’re dealing with wasps invading your space, potentially putting health and property at risk. If you need help identifying and eliminating the infestation at the source, connect with our recommended local professional near you.

The common thread-waisted wasp (Ammophila Procera) is easily found in most parts of south and central America, southern Canada, and Mexico. It is also quite common to the US. 

Garden owners and farmers love these waps because they are beneficial insects that keep unwanted pests away from their gardens and yards. 

Despite their significant pest controlling and pollinating nature, it can be a little overwhelming to deal with these wasps because they make nests all over the place and buzz around. 

These wasps are agile, and they build their nest (either underground or in your window frames), which makes them harder to track and get rid of. 

This article will mention ways through which you can naturally get rid of common thread-waisted wasps without taking the risk of killing them. 

What Are They?

Ammophila procera is a kind of digger wasp from the species Sphecinae. It has a long and slender abdomen with a black body and an orangish band in the middle.

These bugs are mostly found in southern Canada, Mexico, parts of the United States, and central and south America.

These wasps can grow to be up to 1.4 inches in size and show sexual dimorphism in that females are larger than males.

Common thread-waisted wasps have long antennae and clear wings with visible veins, just like many others in their family. 

Normally, these little fellows like to be in places without much vegetation, such as beaches or plains. They are diggers and love to be near places that have soft soil.

Ammophila Procera takes nectar as its primary source of food and remains near its burrows as much as possible. 

Is the Common Thread Waisted Wasp Dangerous?

This species of wasps are not social; they are solitary nesters. Unlike most social wasps and insects, solitary wasps are generally docile and less aggressive towards humans and pets. 

But, they have a venomous sting that can trigger pain and other problems in the human body. 

Avoid recklessly handling them or accidentally touching them. They will attack and sting you as an act of defense. 

You must also note that they are great pest controllers. They prey on soft-bodied insects and larvae of butterflies and moths, such as Symmerista moths, false unicorn caterpillars, and oakleaf caterpillars.

These caterpillars are meant for laying their eggs and as food for their larvae, just like many other species of parasitoid wasps.

Farmers prefer having them around their yards as they hunt down these leaf-eating caterpillars. 

Are they aggressive?

These wasps are timid in nature and prefer to flee from danger if they feel threatened. 

They only resort to attacking when the wasp is not able to escape. In most cases, adult females have limited venom, which they often save for hunting down their prey.

Do They Sting?

As mentioned above, they refrain from attacking humans and pets. They will sting if you directly touch them or try to manhandle them. 

They do not use the sting as protection; they use it as a tool for stinging insects and making them paralyzed, which is later fed to the growing larvae in the nests. 

Are they venomous?

The thread-waisted wasp’s sting contains venom that helps to stunt the insect prey. However, their venom is mild in humans. 

If it stings you, the pain and swelling will be less compared to the bites of yellow jacket wasps or certain bees. Washing it with clean water and soap will fix the wound in some time. 

Their Life Cycle

The life cycle of a common thread-waisted wasp is divided into four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The female wasps lay eggs on the nest that they build with mud. 

Once they lay the eggs, they fill the nest with paralyzed caterpillars. When the eggs hatch, the larvae can feed on them till reaching the next stage, where they turn into a pupa. 

They stay in that stage throughout the winter, and in spring, they grow out to become full-grown adults.

How to Get Rid of Them

Just want to have someone else handle getting rid of these wasps for you, call for local pest control services now.

There are some natural ways through which you can get rid of these wasps:

Since these wasps also prefer to build underground nests, you should keep watering your lawn or garden regularly. 

By doing so, you will drown out the wasp larvae. Moreover, the adults will no longer be able to build nests in muddy soil. They will eventually move to another location. 

To prevent them from digging a nest, you can also add a thin layer of gravel to your lawn.

Planting more grass seeds will add thick grass cover to the ground, which prevents the wasps from digging; it also makes your lawn healthier.

Lastly, common thread-waisted wasps feast on garden pests such as butterfly and moth caterpillars. 

Therefore try your best to keep these pests at bay. If there is a shortage of food for these wasps, they will move to another place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrap Up

It is always good to have an insect-free house and garden. Since thread-waisted wasps are common throughout America, you are likely to face the challenge of them making a home in your yard or garden. 

Use the methods described in this article to naturally get rid of these wasps without killing them. 

We hope this article helps you to deal with thread-waisted wasps in a better manner. Thank you for taking the time to read the article. 

Call for pest control services now.