Every fall, the wasps show up. They buzz around the porch, they find their way inside, and they seem meaner than they were in July. There is a reason for that, and once you understand it, keeping them out gets a lot easier.

In late summer, wasp colonies stop growing and the workers lose their jobs. The queen stops laying eggs, so there is no more food for the larvae, which normally produce a sweet substance the workers eat. Hungry, unemployed wasps go looking for sugar anywhere they can find it: soda cans, fruit, your kitchen.

Where they get in

Wasps squeeze through surprisingly small gaps. Check these spots:

• Gaps around window screens and frames
• Under door thresholds
• Where utility lines enter the house
• Cracks in siding and around vents

Keep them out

1. Caulk or seal gaps around windows, doors, and utility entries. A tube of exterior caulk is cheap.
2. Repair or replace damaged screens. A pinhole is plenty for a wasp.
3. Keep food covered outside, and rinse soda cans before recycling them.
4. Take out trash regularly and keep the bin lid shut.
5. Do not leave sweet drinks unattended on the porch.

What to do about a nest

If you see a nest, do not poke it and do not spray water at it. Angry wasps sting in groups. For a small nest, spray wasp killer in the evening, when they are all home and less active. For anything large, or if you are allergic, call a professional. It is worth the money.

My mistake

I once closed a window with a wasp sitting on the frame, and it ended up in my living room for two days. Check window frames before closing them in late summer. It sounds silly, but it is exactly how they get inside.

Fall wasps are just hungry workers looking for a last meal. Deny them the meal and they go bother someone else.