How to Keep Wasps From Making Holes in Wood

Whether you’re building a home, renovating, or have an existing home, it’s important to know what you can do to keep wasps from chewing holes in wood. Wasps aren’t dangerous to humans, but they can ruin your wood, making it look unsightly. You can do your best to avoid these wood chewers by using wood that was kiln-dried or properly seasoned before you put it in your home.

Wood wasps make small, elongated cylindrical bodies, often colored red or yellow. They’re not stinging, but they’re able to chew through almost any material. They can also burrow into wood to make their nests. Their nests are typically found on decks, soffits, window frames, or overhangs. They’re also known to nest in decaying trees.

These wasps have a long, cylindrical ovipositor, which is longer than the body. This is used by the females to lay their eggs. They also use this to feed their larvae.

The larvae of wood wasps are characterized by six small feet on their breast. They’re also able to chew through any material, including carpet, hardwood floors, and plaster walls. They also have a dark spike on their abdomens.

The larvae take about two to three years to become adult wasps. Once they are adult, they leave their nests to mate and lay their eggs. Once the eggs are laid, the larvae transform into an insect with six legs. They feed on caterpillars, flower nectar, and sugars.

Once the larvae have developed, they start to create sawdust-packed burrows. These burrows are typically 1 to 2 feet long.